College of Pharmacy institute’s sanitizer to supply campus, Department of
Corrections facilities
Aiming
to fill local shortages and meet growing demand to help slow the spread of
COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), the University of Rhode Island Pharmaceutical
Development Institute has begun producing its own line of hand sanitizer in its
labs in the College of Pharmacy.
Scientists
in the Institute have begun producing Rhody Blue and Rhody Clear hand
sanitizer, which contain 75 percent isopropyl alcohol.
The Rhode Island Department of Health certified the Institute to produce the sanitizer as the growing coronavirus crisis has led to empty shelves in many stores.
It will be produced and bottled in the labs in Avedisian Hall, the College’s home on URI’s Kingston campus. URI Health Services is partnering in the effort.
The Rhode Island Department of Health certified the Institute to produce the sanitizer as the growing coronavirus crisis has led to empty shelves in many stores.
It will be produced and bottled in the labs in Avedisian Hall, the College’s home on URI’s Kingston campus. URI Health Services is partnering in the effort.
“Like
all health care professionals, we’re deeply concerned about the virus and want
to do everything we can to help slow it’s spread,” Pharmacy Dean Paul Larrat
said.
“We have the expertise and the labs here in the College to properly
produce hand sanitizer to FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) standards, so
this is one small way we can help with the monumental, ongoing response to this
pandemic.”
“We have the expertise and the labs here in the College to properly
produce hand sanitizer to FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) standards, so
this is one small way we can help with the monumental, ongoing response to this
pandemic.”
The
Institute has begun filling 8-ounce bottles of Rhody Blue gel sanitizer for distribution
throughout the URI campus.
In addition, the Institute is producing Rhody Clear liquid hand sanitizer for the state Department of Corrections in half-gallon bottles for use in its facilities.
In addition, the Institute is producing Rhody Clear liquid hand sanitizer for the state Department of Corrections in half-gallon bottles for use in its facilities.
“Cooperation
among agencies is critical to Rhode Island’s response to the COVID-19 crisis,
and we are very grateful to URI for their assistance to us as we work to keep
our staff and inmates safe,” said Department of Corrections Director Patricia
A. Coyne-Fague.
Institute
Acting Director Cathy Curtin-Miller applauded the efforts of the PDI staff and
faculty members for taking an active role in the local response to the COVID-19
outbreak.
“A
demand for hand sanitizer was expressed from the University and from some of
our external partners, so we put an emergency response team together to help
meet the need,” Curtin-Miller said.
“Staff members have selflessly volunteered to be part of the response effort to the virus, led by Saleh Allababidi, our senior development scientist and a faculty member with the College.”
“Staff members have selflessly volunteered to be part of the response effort to the virus, led by Saleh Allababidi, our senior development scientist and a faculty member with the College.”
Besides
frequently washing hands, using hand sanitizer is among the best strategies to
help prevent person-to-person transmission of COVID-19, the disease caused by
the novel coronavirus.
“Washing
your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential and the
best defense,” said Charles McGovern, manager of the Institute.
“If soap and water are not readily available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Given the shortages in stores throughout the region, PDI’s goal is to supply the URI community with hand sanitizing agents.”
“If soap and water are not readily available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Given the shortages in stores throughout the region, PDI’s goal is to supply the URI community with hand sanitizing agents.”