Bioengineers set up face-shield testing site to ensure provider safety during COVID-19 crisis

by Debra Melani, CU Anschutz Communications

Within two days of being asked to launch a testing site for face shields by the state’s newly formed Innovation Response Team Task Force, CU Bioengineering Distinguished Professor Robin Shandas and nearly 200 volunteer researchers and students stood ready.

After assessing equipment, planning a process, and choosing three labs in the Bioscience 2 Building, the team (largely working together virtually) garnered university approval.

“That all happened very quickly,” said Shandas, director of the Center for Bioengineering on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. “Within 20 hours, we had our first design for testing.”

Citizens answer call for medical equipment

Partially fueled by a call for help from the governor, companies and innovators across the state have joined in the battle against COVID-19, pumping out Protective Medical Equipment (PME) at an urgent pace.

“Everybody has lots of ideas. They all want to help,” Shandas said. “While that’s fantastic, you have to remember that these things are going to be used on people and in the healthcare setting. Even though we are in crisis mode, none of these things should harm anybody.”

Read the full story on CU Anschutz Today.