How did the Research Institutions in the U.S. evolve? Are the University Labs in the U.S. trying to find a solution to COVID-19?

Research in U.S. University on Covid 19

As the U.S. pursues economic growth and other national goals, its research universities have emerged as a major national asset — perhaps even its most powerful one. This is the result of forward-thinking and planned federal and state policies.

The first policy introduced was the Morrill Act of 1862, to establish a partnership between the federal government and the states to build universities that would address the challenges of creating a modern agricultural and industrial economy for the 20th century.

The government–university partnership was expanded in the 1950s and 1960s to contribute to national security, public health, and economic growth. Through this expanded partnership, basic research — the source of new ideas for the long term — would be increasingly funded by the federal government and largely concentrated in the nation’s research universities. This partnership grew over time to include industry and philanthropy and led to significant benefits for America’s economy and quality of life.

Lasers, radar, synthetic insulin, blood thinners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computers, and rocket fuel are among the countless innovations in which university research has played an essential role. And talented graduates of these institutions have created and populated many new businesses that have employed millions of people.

Role Played by universities in the situation of COVID 19 Pandemic

Many university laboratories are engrossed in finding treatments, tests and vaccines for COVID-19. The U.S. universities are working in collaboration with the federal government and the private sector, as well as institutions and labs worldwide.

The campuses are also involved in drawing on faculty expertise, campus facilities, logistical assets, research labs, and campus leadership to aid in the battle against the pandemic.

University hospitals nationwide, along with physicians, health care workers and health care practitioners are testing potential corona virus patients and treating people sickened by COVID-19. They are contributing buildings and dorm beds for use as temporary facilities to care for the ill if regular hospitals are overwhelmed.

At academic health centres, researchers are testing medications that might be used to treat COVID-19. The University of Nebraska Medical Centre was approved for the first randomized clinical trial of remdesivir (an antiviral first used against Ebola) as a treatment for COVID-19.

The University of California San Diego has joined with other UC medical centres at Irvine, Davis and San Francisco to conduct a small clinical trial on remdesivir.

At the Harvard University Medical School, the researchers are on the frontlines of developing a vaccine specially targeted toward older population at the risk of developing the acute respiratory symptoms caused by COVID-19.

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, researchers are in the high gear working on a promising antiviral treatment for COVID-19.

The U.S. university research will play a key role in the most important developments of antiviral medications and vaccines.