Editors:
Speaking of marine expeditions, you’ve sponsored two XPRIZE competitions focused on ocean health. Do you think chal- lenge prizes could fill gaps of the global COVID-19 response, for example, to manufacture more testing kits, accelerate the delivery of PPE, or incentivize other areas of need? One challenge we are currently facing is that innovations don’t have the funding pathway to scale, so promising ideas by entrepreneurs, researchers, and even major companies are being developed too slowly. Challenge prizes help raise awareness for problems we are trying to solve and attract new people to help solve those problems by giving them a pathway to contribute. One idea might be for philanthropy to pair prizes and chal- lenges with an “advanced market commitment” where the government commits to a purchase order for the innovation if it meets a certain test. That could be deeply impactful for areas like PPE and the production of testing kits. COVID-19 testing, especially, has been sorely needed, here in the U.S. and in developing countries as well as low-in- come communities. That’s why we’re so intrigued by your Schmidt Science Fellows grantee Hal Holmes and his work to repurpose a new DNA technology to create a portable, mobile test for COVID-19. Can you tell us about that work and how you are supporting it? Our work with Conservation X Labs began years ago when our foundation was the first to support their efforts to devel- op a handheld DNA barcode sensor to help detect illegally imported and mislabeled seafood and timber products. The device was developed by Hal Holmes, who became one of our Schmidt Science Fellows and is the technical lead on the project, working closely with Conservation X Labs co-found- ers Alex Deghan and Paul Bunje. Now, with COVID-19, Hal and team have worked with another Schmidt Science Fel- low, Fahim Farzardfard, to repurpose the technology—which requires no continuous power source, special training, or a lab—to serve as a mobile testing device for the virus. The work is going very well, manufacturing is being organized, and distribution agreements with hospitals and government
Wendy:
Editors:
Wendy:
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