BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — In true Western New York fashion, people are stepping-up, to help some of the sickest COVID-19 patients.
On April 10, the Clinical Research Office in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo launched the local program of the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project.
Researchers put out the call for people who have recovered from COVID-19 and who have developed antibodies against the disease. Experts believe if plasma from these survivors is administered to a currently infected person, these antibodies could help aid in recovery.
According to university leaders, within days of launching this program, more than 150 community members, many of them health care workers, have answered the call seeing if they can participate.
“There’s already been a tremendous response,” said Sanjay Sethi, MD, professor of medicine, chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in the Jacobs School and director of UB’s Clinical Research Office (CRO). Sethi is coordinating the program with Tim Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor and director of UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, as well as Pam Anderson and Kim Brunton, associate directors of operations in the CRO.
COVID-19 patients at Buffalo General Medical Center, Millard Fillmore Suburban and Erie County Medical Center will be eligible to receive the plasma, if they meet specific criteria.
If you're interested in donating, you can fill out the online screening form [icm-tracking.meltwater.com]. Once someone is screened and deemed eligible, they will be contacted on how and where to donate.
