The Ģֱ receives a donation of €200 000 for coronavirus sample analysis
The sufficiency of coronavirus testing capacity has been debated in media in recent weeks. According to the current estimation, the number of coronavirus tests per day is limited in Finland.
The donation enables a significant increase of testing capacity at JYU. The question is about analysing PCR tests that are based on gene amplification. They are currently the most common coronavirus tests in Finland.
PCR tests help to reliably verify coronavirus illness immediately, regardless of the phase of the disease. The tests can, for example, help to prove the exposure of health care staff to the virus.
“The donation enables that the Ģֱ can focus research capacity to develop the analysis method, allocate human resources for analysis and purchase required reagents for testing,” says Rector Keijo Hämäläinen from the Ģֱ. “The laboratory will be prepared for the diagnostic analysis of coronavirus samples.”
“With the donation, we support the Ģֱ to increase coronavirus testing capacity in the region and Finland,” says Teemu Toivanen, CEO of LähiTapiola Keski-Suomi. “As a life insurance company, we want to make all we can to ease the difficult situation. We hope that our donation also encourages other companies to similar cooperation with universities so that we can increase the testing capacity as quickly as possible.”
More information:
Keijo Hämäläinen, Rector of the Ģֱ, +358 40 6800 215
Varpu Marjomäki, Docent of cell and molecular biology +358 40 563 4422
Janne Ihalainen, Head of Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 358 40 024 7979
Henrik Kunttu, Vice Rector responsible for research at the Ģֱ, +358 50 599 6134
Anna-Kaisa Säkkinen, Director of Communications, +358 40 657 72 11, anna-kaisa.sakkinen@jyu.fi
Teemu Toivanen, CEO, LähiTapiola Keski-Suomi, +358 40 062 5612, teemu.toivanen@lahitapiola.fi