COVID-19 and Effective Diagnostics

SARS-CoV-2 virus and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Effective diagnostics are the key to recovery of health, society and the economy.

Diagnostics have never been more important or visible on the world stage than they are today in the midst of our global pandemic. Diagnostics are critical not only to identify those who are sick, but also those who can affect and help treat others. Because of widespread anxiety and fear, there is much confusion and false information circulating.

This particular coronavirus and the disease it causes are sufficiently novel that our current state of knowledge to guide diagnostic (and therapeutic) development is quite limited, particularly in asymptomatic and recovering patients.

The potential global market for testing is huge and the result is a free-for-all gold rush to sell tests. We will review the challenges, opportunities and imperatives for diagnostics in the mid and later stages of this devastating pandemic as well as ASU’s unique role and impact in our community.

Joshua LaBaer, Executive Director and Professor, ASU Biodesign Institute and Center Director and Faculty Member, Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics and Mara Aspinall, Professor of Practice and Managing Director of BlueStone Venture Partners will share insights on the role of diagnostics in the current healthcare system as well as the important role that ASU and Biodesign is playing with its important testing capabilities.