UC3M initiatives and research into combatting COVID-19
4/15/20
The university community of UC3M is undertaking several initiatives and research studies in distinct work areas aimed at tackling different aspects linked to COVID-19. This webpage gathers some of them.
Development of a new ventilator prototype for the ICU against COVID-19
Researchers and technicians from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and the University Hospital Gregorio Marañón (HGUGM) have designed and developed a new ventilator prototype for Intensive Care Units (ICU) in the fight against the health crisis caused by COVID-19. The assembly of two units has just been completed in order to start animal tests and homologation processes.
Research into a new high-precision radiology system for the coronavirus
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) is participating in a research project together with the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (HGUGM), the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos and the company Sedecal Molecular Imaging (SMI), project coordinator, to develop a new high-precision radiology system for coronavirus pulmonary involvement.
Researchers develop a computer simulator that recreates the spread of COVID-19 in Europe
A team of Spanish researchers have designed and validated a simulator to enable study of the evolution of the COVID-19 illness in Spain and in all Europe, based on parameters such as climate, social distancing policies and transportation. This research work has been carried out by scientists and technologists from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), the Centro Nacional de Epidemiología (CNE) and the Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), in conjunction with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS).
The effectiveness of social distancing strategies in the face of an epidemic has been analysed
The complete isolation of the population in the face of an epidemic such as COVID-19 is a strategy that requires subsequently adopting active measures in order to maximise its effectiveness, such as conducting large scale diagnostic tests, isolating people with symptoms and identifying those with whom they have had contact. This is one of the main conclusions from a study conducted by a team of researchers from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), the University of Zaragoza, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the ISI Foundation in Italy.
A device to treat sleep apnea adapted for use as respiratory support for COVID-19 patients
A team of researchers from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and Hospital Gregorio Marañón have adapted and evaluated an apparatus normally utilized to treat sleep apnea for its use as respiratory support for patients with COVID-19. The device could aid seriously ill patients before they are admitted into critical care, as well as providing support for patients who are progressing favorably in an intensive care unit.
Manufacturing protective screens against COVID-19
3D printing systems are being used to manufacture protective screens that can be used to help combat COVID-19 in the Madrid Community.This initiative has been started by researchers from the UC3M Department of Systems Engineering and Automation and the UC3M Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering, in coordination with the University’s Technical Office and with collaboration from the IT and Communications Service, having already distributed the first units to hospitals, civil protection teams, police, and nursing homes in the region.
Innovations developed by start-ups and spin-offs linked to UC3M
Start-ups and spin-offs linked to UC3M through the Business Incubation and Acceleration Program–such as SENSIA Solutions, AEON-T, Luz WaveLabs, ionIDE Telematics, and APTENT Soluciones- are currently working on different lines of activity to help manage and combat COVID-19. These lines include 3d printing, subtitling to facilitate remote work for persons with hearing disabilities, and smart devices installed in hospital beds for making video calls.
UC3M spin-off develops a thermographic camera that measures body temperature at a distance
A spin-off from the LIR-Infrared Lab (Laboratorio de Sensores, Teledetección e Imagen en el Infrarrojo) at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), SENSIA Solutions, has adapted its thermographic camera technology, called HIGIA, in order to manufacture a new high precision system for measuring body temperature that can be used to detect fever in individuals accessing facilities, in the wake of the healthcare emergency brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Low income workers will be disproportionately affected by COVID-19
Low income workers in developing countries face a higher risk of income loss during the COVID-19 isolation as it is more difficult for them to work from home. This is one of the results of a new international, economic study in which researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) have participated whose results provide useful information for planning post-pandemic de-escalation.
Computer simulations to improve social measures against COVID-19
Researchers from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) have been granted funding by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Carlos III Health Institute, ISCIII) for a research project related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19. In this context, a set of computer simulations will be carried out which will allow researchers to assess different scenarios of propagation, the effect on the climate or the effectiveness of targeted immunisation, among other things. Its results, which are expected to be obtained in the coming weeks, could help improve mitigation strategies for the virus in Spain and Europe.
A geospatial analysis identifies the areas most vulnerable to COVID-19
A report based on a geospatial analysis conducted by researchers from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) in collaboration with TAPTAP Digital, using additional data from Predicio and Tamoco, identifies the areas in Spain that require increased measures of protection against new outbreaks of the COVID19 epidemics.
