Coronavirus: University Of Arizona Produces Hand Sanitizer

TUCSON, AZ — Researchers at the University of Arizona are producing needed hand sanitizer amid the new coronavirus pandemic in an effort to bolster supplies.

"With the goal of keeping our laboratory personnel safe, and also to do our part in 'flattening the curve,' we rapidly scaled down our ongoing research projects on bacterial infectious diseases,"Gayatri Vedantam, a professor in the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, said in a press release.

Vedantam and VK Viswanathan, also an associate professor, study bacteria that causes infections in humans and agriculturally important animals, the release says. They've done studies to see if pathogens are present in local hospital and laboratory studies to understand how organisms cause disease.

They've put much of their own work on hold in order to help meet the community needs, the release says.

"Once we suggested the idea, [the laboratory crew] just ran with it and used the critical thinking skills that we emphasize all the time in our research group," Viswanathan said.

They're using World Health Organization guidelines in producing hand sanitizer, ensuring to wear protective gear and to make it under sterile conditions.

Shane Burgess, UArizona vice president of agriculture, life and veterinary sciences, said the dedication of the faculty is exemplary. "Dr. Vedantam and Dr. Viswanathan have shown selfless commitment addressing an urgent need as we all work to 'flatten the curve' during this crisis," Burgess said in the release.

Several health care facilities across southern Arizona, including Carondolet Health Network, Marana Hospital and UArizona Campus Health, have requested the hand sanitizer.

"Our first priority is to help health care workers. They are at very high risk, and they are critical for our efforts to combat this outbreak," Vedantam said. "At some point soon, we anticipate the need for ingredients. Immediately, we already have a shortage of plastic, flip-top, travel-size bottles and small plastic spray bottles; the ability to get them in bulk would be beneficial."

See the University of Arizona release.