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NIH-funded COVID-19 home test is first to receive over-the-counter authorization from FDA

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Tuesday, December 15, 2020

NIH-funded COVID-19 home test is first to receive over-the-counter authorization from FDA

Ellume USA’s rapid at-home test was developed through the NIH RADx Initiative.

Image of COVID-19 at-home test

Ellume’s COVID-19 home test offers a complete at-home sampling and testing solution. The single-use, Bluetooth-enabled test cartridge and self-collection swab are designed for consumer use in conjunction with a smartphone.Ellume photo

What

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization(link is external) (EUA) today for an innovative COVID-19 viral antigen test developed with support from the National Institutes of Health’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Initiative. Ellume USA LLC, Valencia, California, designed the test for use at home without a prescription. This is the first EUA awarded for an at-home COVID test that can be purchased over the counter.  Ellume developed the test with a $30 million contract and technical support from the RADx Tech program, managed by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), part of NIH.

The test is performed using a mid-turbinate nasal swab designed for comfortable self-sampling.  The sample is inserted into a single-use cartridge that returns results in 15 minutes. The at-home test analyzer connects to the user’s smartphone through Bluetooth and pairs with a downloadable app that provides step-by-step instructions and displays results.

Users can share real-time results from the test, selling for approximately $30, with healthcare professionals, employers, and schools for efficient COVID-19 tracking. Ellume plans to scale-up manufacturing to deliver millions of home tests per month in 2021.

Who

Bruce J. Tromberg, Ph.D., director of NIBIB and lead for the RADx Tech program, can comment on COVID-19 testing technology.

About the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADxSM) initiative: The RADxSM initiative was launched on April 29, 2020, to speed innovation in the development, commercialization, and implementation of technologies for COVID-19 testing. The initiative has four programs: RADx Tech, RADx Advanced Technology Platforms, RADx Underserved Populations and RADx Radical. It leverages the existing NIH Point-of-Care Technology Research Network. The RADx initiative partners with federal agencies, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, Department of Defense, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Learn more about the RADx initiative and its programs: https://www.nih.gov/radx.

About the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB): NIBIB’s mission is to improve health by leading the development and accelerating the application of biomedical technologies. The Institute is committed to integrating the physical and engineering sciences with the life sciences to advance basic research and medical care. NIBIB supports emerging technology research and development within its internal laboratories and through grants, collaborations, and training. More information is available at the NIBIB website: https://www.nibib.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

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Publication Date: 
12/16/2020

ENCUESTA: Opinión sobre la potencial vacuna contra el COVID-19

COVID-19

¡Queremos conocer tu opinión sobre la potencial vacuna contra el COVID-19!

 

Investigadoras del Recinto de Ciencias Médicas están realizando un proyecto de investigación sobre la intención de los adultos en Puerto Rico de vacunarse contra el COVID-19 y sus creencias sobre esta vacuna. Sé parte de este estudio si tienes 18 años o más y eres residente de Puerto Rico. Tu participación consiste en contestar un cuestionario en línea de aproximadamente 20 minutos de duración

 

¡Ayúdanos a conocer el sentir sobre la vacuna contra el COVID-19 en Puerto Rico!

 

Link de encuesta: https://forms.gle/VP2vnxnqPNsV175z8

 

Para obtener más información, envíe un correo electrónico a: andrea.lopez11@upr.edu
Aprobado por la Oficina del Contralor Electoral OCE-SA-2020-1976.

 

 

Publication Date: 
12/16/2020

2021 Health Disparities Research Institute

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Save the Date: 2021 Health Disparities Research Institute

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) will host the Health Disparities Research Institute (HDRI) virtually August 9-13, 2021. Applications will be accepted from February 1 - March 8, 2021! HDRI aims to support the research career development of promising early-career minority health and health disparities research scientists, and to stimulate research in disciplines supported by health disparities science.

The program will feature:

  • Lectures on minority health and health disparities research
  • Mock grant review
  • Seminars and small group discussions

Institute participants will also have the opportunity to engage in sessions with NIH scientific staff involved in health disparities research across the various NIH Institutes and Centers.

Please note that applications will only be accepted from extramural scientists who meet NIH’s Early Stage Investigator (ESI) eligibility criteria. NIH and HHS staff, including persons in fellowships/training at NIH or an HHS agency, are not eligible to apply.

Visit the HDRI webpage to learn more about the target audience, eligibility, selection criteria, and how to apply.

For questions or more information, email HDRI@nih.gov

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Publication Date: 
12/10/2020

5th Annual Caribbean Alcohol Reduction Day: Webinar - Alcohol and COVID-19 - Nov 24, 2020 11:00 AM AST

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5th Annual Caribbean Alcohol Reduction Day: Webinar - Alcohol and COVID-19

Healthy Caribbean Coalition, PAHO, CARPHA, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Webinar

November 24  at 11:00am AST.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NiJuQZw6T--JKQ8P_vCXjw

The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) in partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, is pleased to announce the continuation of the annual Caribbean Alcohol Reduction Day (CARD) webinar series. The HCC and partners have held an annual Caribbean Alcohol Reduction Day for the past four years, under the themes and titles: The Misuse of Alcohol (2016); Drink less, Reduce Cancer (2017); Youth: Let's talk about alcohol (2018); and Women and Alcohol (2019).

The objective of the fifth CARD webinar entitled "Alcohol and COVID-19" is to reflect on the alcohol consumption patterns over the course of the pandemic; the reciprocal impact of mental health under crisis conditions on alcohol consumption and related harms and comorbidities; government and alcohol industry action during the pandemic; and to discuss priority alcohol policy and programming, related mental health policy and programming and industry regulations moving forward as the pandemic continues.

This year's theme is most topical and critical to examine because of the specific harms and comorbidities related to alcohol consumption during this public health crisis. The interconnected nature of alcohol consumption, mental health and NCDs during the COVID-19 pandemic requires close examination in order to best devise strategies to manage these harms and to regulate alcohol sales, promotion and consumption as we continue into the prolonged social and economic conditions of the pandemic.

The webinar will highlight how alcohol use during the coronavirus pandemic is related to and impacted by poor mental health, government regulation and industry action. Through a roundtable format, a diverse panel of experts and advocates will share regional research on alcohol use patterns and associated risk and harms, linkages with mental health and the impact of government and industry action. Finally, policy strategies and recommendations will be discussed that are focused on reducing alcohol consumption and associated harms, mitigating poor mental health arising from pandemic conditions and regulating industry marketing activity.

The webinar will take the form of a series of brief presentations followed by a roundtable discussion and a question and answer session.

Register here.

 

Moderator - Sir Trevor Hassell HCC President

Alcohol use and COVID-19 - Findings of a PAHO Survey - Dr. Maristela Monteiro, Senior Advisor on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO

Clinical perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and alcohol consumption - Dr. John Dillet, Consultant Psychiatrist, Mental Health Professional, The Bahamas

Mental health and substance use among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic -  Ms. Safiya Clarke-Mendes, Recent MHP Graduate, HCC Volunteer Researcher, Youth Advocate

COVID-19 and the Alcohol Industry - Helpful or Harmful? - Prof. Rohan Maharaj, HCC Alcohol Policy Advisor, Professor of Family Medicine of University of the West Indies

Policy and programming recommendations - GAS & SAFER - Dr. Maristela Monteiro, Senior Advisor on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, PAHO

Fit Break - Ms. Danielle Walwyn, Advocacy Officer, Healthy Caribbean Coalition

Roundtable Disucssion/Question & Answer Session - Sir Trevor Hassell HCC President

Closing - Sir Trevor Hassell HCC President

Register here.

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Publication Date: 
11/20/2020

NIMHD UPDATES: New Research Spotlight: Study Sheds Light on Mental Health Disparities in Adults With Dementia

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NIMHD-Funded Study Sheds Light on Mental Health Disparities in Adults With Dementia

Elderly Black man and woman sitting together looking at each other with concern.Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias that involve loss of mental clarity turn daily life tasks into challenges. African Americans and Hispanics are more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to experience dementia as they age. While depression and anxiety are often associated with dementia, African Americans and Hispanics with these mental health conditions are less likely than their White counterparts to be diagnosed and treated.

A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry revealed that the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias was highest for African Americans, followed by that for Hispanics and then Whites. Self-reported experiences of serious depression and restlessness were also higher in the minority groups. Serious mental distress is both a potential complication and trigger of dementia. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether the dementia is causing the mental distress or vice-versa. However, better diagnosis and management of mental illness may help protect individuals from disease progression.

Learn More

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Publication Date: 
11/18/2020

IMPORTANT: HIV & RespiDART 2020 Virtual Conference

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Subject: HIV & RespiDART 2020 virtual conference

 

Free registration is now open for HIV & RespiDART 2020 virtual conference. The primary focus of HIV DART (Day 1; December 10, 2020) will be on new advances in HIV cure strategies and injectable therapeutics development. RespiDART (Day 2, December 17, 2020) will focus on scientific advances in therapeutics and vaccines development for SARS-CoV-2.

More information on HIV & RespiDART 2020 can be found through the meeting website.

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Publication Date: 
11/18/2020

Guia del CDC para la Celebración del Día de Acción de Gracias - Guide for Celebrating Thanksgiving

NEWS

Celebrating Thanksgiving – Updated Nov. 10, 2020

Languages:     English Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/tha...

                       Spanish Link: https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays... (ver al abajo)

Traditional Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are fun but can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. Follow these tips to make your Thanksgiving holiday safer.

The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to celebrate with people in your household. If you do plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer.

 

ESPAÑOL

Celebración del Día de Acción de Gracias

Los tradicionales encuentros el Día de Acción de Gracias con familiares y amigos son divertidos, pero pueden aumentar las posibilidades de contraer o propagar el COVID-19 o la influenza. Siga estos consejos para celebrar el Día de Acción de Gracias en forma segura.

La manera más segura de celebrar el Día de Acción de Gracias es hacerlo con los miembros de su hogar. Si planea celebrar el Día de Acción de Gracias con personas con las que no convive, tome medidas para que la celebración sea lo más segura posible.

Publication Date: 
11/12/2020

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