SUNY Oswego, Binghamton University awarded SUNY grant funding for pandemic projects

ALBANY, N.Y. — SUNY Oswego and Binghamton University are among the campuses that will use funding from a SUNY program to develop personal protective equipment (PPE) and “improve effective safety interventions.”

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras on Friday announced grant awards from the SUNY Prepare Innovation and Internship Program.

SUNY awarded a total of 12 teams of SUNY students and faculty across seven campuses up to $10,000 each in seed funding to conduct further research on their proposals. The program is designed to provide “real life, hands-on applied learning experiences” for students, and actively involve them in the creation of pandemic-related products.

“From day one, SUNY has been leading the effort to combat COVID-19 with providing frontline health-care workers PPE, like face shields using innovative 3D printing technology, developing world-leading testing, and conducting vaccine trials — in other words, SUNY has helped save lives,” Malatras said. “We want to continue to harness the intellectual firepower of SUNY faculty, researchers, and students to develop the latest breakthroughs in the fight against COVID-19 or the next infectious disease. I applaud today’s 12 award winners for their innovations because they will help slow the spread and make a difference. This is just another example of how the largest system of public higher education is making an important impact.”

Oswego, Binghamton projects

The team at SUNY Oswego is working on a project that focuses on improving SARS-CoV-2 detection techniques.

“The SUNY grant will support the important work of Oswego Professors Bendinskas and Koeppe in recognizing the continuous mutation of the COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 virus and the need for our detection methods of the virus to evolve,” SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley said. “The grant will also provide the opportunity for two undergraduate students to engage in innovative research, highlighting the continuing efforts by SUNY Oswego to provide high-impact learning experiences and faculty mentoring to our students. Professors Bendinskas and Koeppe have significant experience working with students in this way, and we look forward to seeing this study progress.”

The team at Binghamton University is working on projects that focus on telemental health for marginalized families; LED UVC (light emitting diode and ultraviolet C) disinfection technology for indoor spaces; and low-cost SARS-CoV-2 sensor for surfaces.