In April 2020, the University of Toronto mobilized approximately $9 million through the Toronto COVID-19 Action Fund to support over 30 research projects. Members of PRiME's Task Force on Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics for COVID-19 received this funding and worked to develop solutions despite lab shutdowns and reagent shortages.
Dr. Rob Batey helped establish the Chemistry COVID-19 Core Facility. The Chan laboratory developed a portable diagnostic using quantum dots to detect SARS-CoV-2 in under an hour, partnering with Luna Nanotech for commercialization. Dr. Leo Chou's group developed a one-step, enzyme-free test using synthetic DNA strands, receiving an NSERC Alliance grant.
Dr. Alan Cochrane and Dr. Walid Houry's labs screened compounds targeting RNA processing and molecular chaperones, identifying candidates that suppress viral replication. Dr. Aled Edwards led the Toronto Open Access COVID-19 Protein Manufacturing Centre, producing 25 viral proteins for Canadian researchers at no cost.
Dr. Xinyu Liu's team built a paper-based microfluidic ELISA platform; the Kelley lab created a reagent-free detection device (advanced through Arma Biosciences); the Moffat team used CRISPR to identify host dependency factors; Dr. Keith Pardee's group developed PCR-free diagnostics (commercialized via En Carta); and the Stagljar lab developed an antibody-detection assay published in Nature Communications.
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