Dear Colleagues:
Many Yale faculty, staff and students are actively engaging in research and innovation to develop alternative sources of critically needed medical and personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 crisis. Endeavors such as these to assist Yale, Yale New Haven Hospital, and other healthcare providers are commendable and encouraged by the university.
In an effort to provide guidance and to improve efficiency and safety, the Office of the Provost has asked John Campbell of Yale Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) to keep a register and serve as a liaison for these projects to the Yale community. Please contact John (john.campbell@yale.edu) if you are using Yale resources (e.g., 3D printers or shops) for research or for innovation related to masks, respirators, ventilators, parts for medical devices, medical supplies, or other PPE or medical devices; and engaging in any of the activities listed below:
- Prototyping, fabrication, or manufacture
- Testing and validation
- Sterilization, disinfection, or decontamination
- Offering material, advice, or other collaborations with commercial manufactures or consortia and vendors to develop, design, retrofit, or validate these items
Please keep in mind that all such on-campus activities must still be approved for each person by name on a ‘critical research’ basis as outlined in the Provost’s March 18, 2020 message entitled Update on Continuity of Critical Research.
John will assist with answers to your questions, help coordinate between efforts, and advise on necessary safety precautions. In particular, I caution you not to acquire used materials from healthcare facilities (e.g., used parts for prototyping) without EHS review and approval.
We are seeing countless examples of dedication and innovation from our campus community, many highlighted on the new website Research, Clinical & Data Driven Responses to COVID-19 (https://covid.yale.edu/). Other examples are less well-known, including the EHS’ development and implementation of promising new PPE sterilization and reuse methodologies. I encourage all of you to think creatively, to work collaboratively, and to keep us informed of your efforts to solve the many challenges of COVID-19.
Sincerely,
Michael Crair
Vice Provost for Research