Fourth-year School of Medicine student Michelle Shabo has recovered from a serious bout with the novel coronavirus and is sharing her story to help others understand that people of all ages can contract the disease. The Worcester native, who is doing an emergency medicine rotation at the Worcester field hospital at the DCU Center, said she is dedicated to helping others fight the virus.
UMass Medical School investigators John P. Haran, MD, PhD, and Beth McCormick, PhD, have teamed up with Kaleido Biosciences, Inc. to research the role of the microbiome in patients who are positive for SARs-CoV-2 infection with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The study, which is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Haran and researchers at the UMass Center for Microbiome Research, plans to enroll 400 outpatients with SARs-CoV-2 to evaluate Kaleido’s microbiome metabolic therapy candidate added to supportive self-care.
UMass Medical School researchers have developed a platform for constructing vaccines using virus-like particles, which one scientist says could be a promising—and safer—approach for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Trudy Morrison, PhD, professor of microbiology & physiological systems, said her work on a VLP-based vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes severe lower respiratory track disease in young children and the elderly, could be adapted to COVID-19. And it would avoid some of the problems inherent in developing vaccines from inactivated or live viruses.
AMHERST, Mass. – Emergency federal financial aid grants totaling $8.3 million were distributed to more than 7,700 undergraduate students this week by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the latest in a number of steps the campus has taken to support students experiencing economic distress due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Two UMass Amherst employees and five other alumni have been named to BusinessWest’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2020.
The 40 young professionals were chosen from a field of 200 nominees for their career achievements and their commitment to the Western Massachusetts community, demonstrated by their involvement in volunteer activities.
The honored employees, with one also being a UMass Amherst alumnus, are:
Following the transition to remote learning and working for the majority of UMass students and employees, University Health Services (UHS) has implemented many changes to ensure continuity of services for the reduced campus population, while keeping patients and staff as safe as possible. With the conclusion of the academic year, UHS’ leaders are looking ahead to fall 2020. Preparations are underway to scale up testing for COVID-19 and antibodies in-house at the UHS laboratory.
New Safety Precautions
Bernard (Ben) Joseph Doherty, UMass Amherst alumnus and former trustee, died April 11 from COVID-19 complications at the age of 83.
Born in Boston, Doherty was the third of five children, to Anthony and Margaret Doherty of Donegal, Ireland. He leaves behind his son, Greg Doherty; his daughter, Kate Quigley; five grandchildren; his brothers Tony and John and their families; and a number of nieces and nephews whom he loved, along with their children. His son Glen, a former Navy SEAL, preceded him in death in 2012.
Four projects proposed by faculty members have been awarded Public Service Endowment Grants from a special campus fund designed to boost outreach, extend the campus resources into the surrounding community and enhance the public service mission of the university.
The UMass Amherst Center for Employment Equity (CEE) has published the second in its “What Works” case study series, a report on increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. The study presents practical strategies for managers, human resources professional and employees who are interested in making their workplaces more inclusive and equitable.
UMass Boston director of the Center for Clinical Education and Research in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Rosemary Samia has been selected through a competitive application process for the National League for Nursing (NLN)’s year-long Leadership Development Program for Simulation Educators.