RSDM Researchers Join the Battle Against COVID-19

RSDM researchers are collaborating with colleagues at Rutgers and nationwide to fight COVID-19.

Since March, members of RSDM have played a role in developing fast, accurate testing for the disease and its antibodies, as well as ways of reducing transmission.

They've been exploring the efficacy of rapid, point-of-care testing that could yield results in as little as 20 minutes. RSDM researchers are working with New Jersey Medical School’s Public Health Research Institute on antibody testing and viral suppression, along with dental and medical equipment supplier Henry Schein in their Test for Tomorrow (T4T) work group. The group consists of several school nationwide, including University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, University of California in San Francisco, Temple University and New York University.

Viral point-of-care testing results supplied by the Schein Company will be compared to FDA approved diagnostic tests developed at Rutgers. “We need independent validation of the tests to make sure there’s some consistency in their accuracy,’’ said Dr. Daniel Fine, Chair of the Oral Biology Department, who is working in association with Dean Cecile A. Feldman in assessment of these tests.

Oral Biology faculty are also contributing to leading research on COVID-19 antibody testing in association with Dr. Maria Laura Gennaro of New Jersey Medical School, who is developing an antibody test for COVID-19 to assess convalescent serum from patients who have had the virus and recovered. The testing, used to indicate whether those who are infected develop immunity, is the first step in efforts to use the serum for COVID treatment.

This month, researchers in the department of oral biology and restorative dentistry, including Drs. Carla Cugini, Ken Markowitz, Eileen Hoskins and Fine, began working with Dr. Theresa Chang, a virologist from the Rutgers Public Health Research Institute, to determine if anti-microbial mouth rinses might curb COVID-19 transmission by reducing viral aerosol that might be spread from patients to providers.

In association with Dr. Chang, they are exploring the effect of a variety of anti-septics with rapid activity against the virus. “The anti-septic rinse that yields the most rapid and long-lasting results in thwarting viral replication will be tested clinically” said Dr. Fine.