LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — UPS is donating $100,000 to the University of Louisville so to help researchers work on a treatment for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus.
Researchers at U of L are working on a treatment that would block the novel coronavirus from infecting human cells.
Last month, scientists at the university said a treatment approved for use in cancer patients had stopped the spread of coronavirus in lab tests.
The treatment is an aptamer, a piece of synthetic DNA that binds to a specific protein and could be used in coronavirus patients if it's found to be effective in patient trials, according to Paula Bates, professor of medicine at the University of Louisville.
"UPS delivers all over the world, so everywhere we operate is now affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," said UPS Airlines President Brendan Canavan. "We're committed to serve every one of those communities and are hopeful that this grant will help unlock an effective treatment for the virus." UPS Airlines is based in Louisville.
The next step is to get approval by the FDA to conduct trials with coronavirus patients.
