The University of Alabama is starting six projects related to COVID-19 and potential future pandemics in the coming months.
The projects were selected through the university’s Joint Institute Pandemic Pilot Project sponsored by the UA Office for Research and Economic Development and the university’s research institutes.
Projects include:
- development of a model to track transmission of infectious diseases
- using a bacteria’s immune system to develop a low-cost test
- determining if lifestyle factors like vaccination history, diet and activity impact COVID symptoms
- exploring and understanding how students and their parents are dealing with school closings and confinement
- creating a training program to help rural Alabamians with skills needed for the evolving job market
- assessing emergency messaging used during the pandemic and the perceptions of the response to said messaging
Executive Director of Alabama Transportation Allen Parrish said the projects range from chemistry, civil engineering, psychology, human nutrition, hospitality management and business management.
