{"id":36147,"date":"2020-06-09T12:51:02","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T16:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/?p=36147"},"modified":"2020-06-10T09:13:50","modified_gmt":"2020-06-10T13:13:50","slug":"ri-c-aims-andreu-changes-operations-for-covid-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/2020\/06\/09\/ri-c-aims-andreu-changes-operations-for-covid-research\/","title":{"rendered":"RI C-AIM’s Andreu changes operations for COVID research"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andreu changing operations for COVID research<\/b><\/h1><\/div><\/div>
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Dr. Irene Andreu<\/strong> was unsure what she, operations manager for a lab that typically conducted marine research, could offer upon joining the University of Rhode Island\u2019s Rapid Solvers<\/a><\/strong> group in March. An introductory meeting with colleagues across the state who are producing quick but accurate research on protective tools halting the COVID-19 pandemic changed her stance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had never worked with anyone in the Rapid Solvers group before,\u201d she says. \u201cI told them that I could do electron microscopy, and everyone was very open, working at a fast pace but all together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andreu manages the Rhode Island Consortium for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology<\/a><\/strong>, a core facility supported by RI NSF EPSCoR <\/a><\/strong>that houses high-tech microscopes capable of examining the composition of materials at the smallest of scales. Prior to the pandemic, for example, Andreu was helping students research how aquatic bacteria adheres to microplastics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“In a month and a half, we created an extensive scientific community that’s manufacturing, prototyping, designing, and testing, paying out of pocket to create a more open, results-sharing environment. It\u2019s amazing.\u201dDr. Irene Andreu, RI Consortium for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now, she\u2019s using the microscopes to better understand the effectiveness of certain filter materials for masks that hinder spread of the COVID-19 virus.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been analyzing these materials to see a relationship between their fiber structure, porosity and performance,\u201d says Andreu. \u201cWe have been looking at the size of the particles, for example, that go through the filtration materials s to see if there\u2019s a particular size being let through.\u201d<\/p>\n

The materials are first tested by a custom-built system<\/strong><\/a>, designed by URI\u2019s Dr. Manbir Sodhi<\/strong>, that pumps incense smoke across the surface of the filter, which is then brought to Andreu\u2019s lab for examination. Andreu is also currently working alongside Dr. Vinka Oyanedel-Craver<\/strong>, professor of civil and environmental engineering at URI and an RI NSF EPSCoR investigator, in developing a new system for aerosol research and teaching.
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In the months since COVID-19 struck, Dr. Irene Andreu has been examining the fibers of protective masks like this to determine how well they can filter airborne particles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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\"microfibers
A mask under the microscope. In the left of the image, finer fibers are visible beneath thicker ones that give a first layer of filtration against large particles, as well as adding some rigidity to the fabric. The thin fibers underneath are responsible for nano-sized particle filtering, a structure similar to those seen in surgical masks and in N95 respirators. Images by Irene Andreu<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Andreu and Sodhi have examined hundreds of different materials over the past months, from paper-based materials like coffee filters to HEPA fabrics.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the beginning, we had to make sure our methods were accurate and not misleading people with bad results,\u201d she said. \u201cThe world\u2019s response to the pandemic has been changing and in the first few weeks there was an information overload, with all of us trying to adapt to the high speed of results. I think we are all now in more of a groove.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"URI<\/div>

Learn more about URI\u2019s Rapid Solvers<\/b> and\/or donate to provide resources for PPE fabrication and distribution<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Visit Site<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n

The goal for Andreu and URI\u2019s Rapid Solvers\u2019 Dr. Kunal Mankodiya<\/strong>, associate professor of electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering at URI, is to provide well-researched guidance for the public who are making masks and filters from materials not specifically designed for medical use. Rapid Solvers has also distributed a large number of face shields for first responders and nursing homes across the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve tested a lot of things that don\u2019t work, trying different materials,\u201d Andreu explains. \u201cWe want to give this direct feedback to those who are making masks at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Andreu, moreover, the experience has demonstrated how researchers can rally together and create well-tested, quantitative research and products on a rapid schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn terms of preparation for future pandemics, we have a network of people who can respond very quickly to needs at the state level,\u201d she says. \u201cNobody was doing this type of materials research before, but in a month and a half we created an extensive scientific community that’s manufacturing, prototyping, designing, and testing, paying out of pocket to create a more open, results-sharing environment. It\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Irene Andreu was unsure what she, operations manager for a lab that typically conducted marine research, could offer upon joining the University of Rhode Island\u2019s Rapid Solvers group in March. An introductory meeting with colleagues across the state who are producing quick but accurate research on protective tools halting the COVID-19 pandemic changed her stance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1994,"featured_media":36174,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1994"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36147"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36321,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36147\/revisions\/36321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rinsfepscor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}