Professor David Gray, Head of Biology at the Drug Discovery Unit, has been sharing his expertise to help the launch of the University of Glasgow based COVID-19 testing centre. The centre was announced on 2nd April as part of the UK-wide measures to increase our capacity to test for SARS-CoV-2 the virus which causes COVID-19.
The centre will be opened by through collaborations between University of Glasgow, the Scottish Government and industry experts from BioAscent Discovery Ltd and Dundee’s Drug Discovery Unit (DDU).
David Gray, Head of Biology and Professor of Translational Biology at the DDU, played an integral role in the design and implementation of the Scottish testing centre and has also advised on operating procedures.
Professor Gray said, “The increase of testing capabilities will undoubtedly help to save lives and ease the burden on the NHS so I was pleased to be able to bring my skills to bear on this global problem. I have been incredibly impressed and gratified by the rapid offers of help from colleagues across industry and academia, and from our many suppliers. We are committed to doing everything we can to help the local, national and international efforts to fight COVID-19. The cooperation and determination across this and other institutions is exceptional.”
The site is already designed to meet industrial scale standards and will be able to begin testing in mid-April. It will be staffed on a 24/7 basis by more than 500 volunteers including highly-experienced molecular scientists, technicians and bioinformaticians – all with the relevant skills and experience to carry out COVID-19 testing. All the scientists and technicians involved have volunteered their services to assist the NHS at this critical time.
Read the full story by University of Dundee press officer Grant Hill.