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Faculty of Arts and HumanitiesDean's Office, Faculty of Arts and HumanitiesJakobi 2, r 116-121 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of History and ArchaeologyJakobi 2 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Estonian and General LinguisticsJakobi 2, IV korrus 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Philosophy and SemioticsJakobi 2, III korrus, ruumid 302-337 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Cultural ResearchÜlikooli 16 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Foreign Languages and CulturesLossi 3 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0School of Theology and Religious StudiesÜlikooli 18 50090 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Viljandi Culture AcademyPosti 1 71004 Viljandi linn, Viljandimaa EST0Professors emeriti, Faculty of Arts and Humanities0Associate Professors emeriti, Faculty of Arts and Humanities0Faculty of Social SciencesDean's Office, Faculty of Social SciencesLossi 36 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of EducationJakobi 5 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Johan Skytte Institute of Political StudiesLossi 36, ruum 301 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0School of Economics and Business AdministrationNarva mnt 18 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of PsychologyNäituse 2 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0School of LawNäituse 20 - 324 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Social StudiesLossi 36 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Narva CollegeRaekoja plats 2 20307 Narva linn, Ida-Virumaa EST0Pärnu CollegeRingi 35 80012 Pärnu linn, Pärnu linn, Pärnumaa EST0Professors emeriti, Faculty of Social Sciences0Associate Professors emeriti, Faculty of Social Sciences0Faculty of MedicineDean's Office, Faculty of MedicineRavila 19 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Biomedicine and Translational MedicineBiomeedikum, Ravila 19 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of PharmacyNooruse 1 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of DentistryL. Puusepa 1a 50406 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Clinical MedicineL. Puusepa 8 50406 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Family Medicine and Public HealthRavila 19 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Sport Sciences and PhysiotherapyUjula 4 51008 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTProfessors emeriti, Faculty of Medicine0Associate Professors emeriti, Faculty of Medicine0Faculty of Science and TechnologyDean's Office, Faculty of Science and TechnologyVanemuise 46 - 208 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Computer ScienceNarva mnt 18 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of GenomicsRiia 23b/2 51010 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTEstonian Marine Institute0Institute of PhysicsInstitute of ChemistryRavila 14a 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Mathematics and StatisticsNarva mnt 18 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Molecular and Cell BiologyRiia 23, 23b - 134 51010 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTTartu ObservatoryObservatooriumi 1 61602 Tõravere alevik, Nõo vald, Tartumaa EST0Institute of TechnologyNooruse 1 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesJ. Liivi tn 2 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTProfessors emeriti, Faculty of Science and Technology0Associate Professors emeriti, Faculty of Science and Technology0Institute of BioengineeringArea of Academic SecretaryHuman Resources OfficeUppsala 6, Lossi 36 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Area of Head of FinanceFinance Office0Area of Director of AdministrationInformation Technology Office0Administrative OfficeÜlikooli 17 (III korrus) 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Estates Office0Marketing and Communication OfficeÜlikooli 18, ruumid 102, 104, 209, 210 50090 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Area of RectorRector's Strategy OfficeInternal Audit OfficeArea of Vice Rector for Academic AffairsOffice of Academic AffairsUniversity of Tartu Youth AcademyUppsala 10 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Student Union OfficeÜlikooli 18b 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Centre for Learning and TeachingArea of Vice Rector for ResearchUniversity of Tartu LibraryW. Struve 1 50091 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Grant OfficeArea of Vice Rector for DevelopmentCentre for Entrepreneurship and InnovationNarva mnt 18 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical GardenVanemuise 46 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0International Cooperation and Protocol Office0University of Tartu MuseumLossi 25 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0
University of Tartu, research company developing rapid coronavirus test
The University of Tartu (TÜ) and Selfdiagnostics, a medical equipment research and development company, are cooperating on developing a rapid SARS-CoV-2 test enabling the more rapid detection of the novel coronavirus at a lower price. The new rapid test will significantly increase testing capacity and deliver greater resource efficiency. The project has been awarded an EIT Health product development grant by the European institute of Innovation and Technology.
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed thousands of lives and, according to assessments by the international scientific community, the virus may cause mass outbreaks again during the fall influenza season. Thus it is important to increase testing capability outside of central laboratories and hospitals in order to prepare for a possible new spike in infections.
The rapid test in development does not require any large equipment or special facilities, thus providing a pocket lab solution which guarantees mobile testing capability based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The rapid test will help alleviate the burden on central testing systems and respond to exceptionally high testing needs. The soltuion can be used by specialist and family doctors alike, as well as by pharmacists and care home medical staff.
"Similarly to existing methods, the test identifies the presence of virus RNA in a nasal swab, providing a reliable tool for detecting infection," said Kaido Kurrikoff, senior researcher at the University of Tartu Institute of Technology.
"The purpose of this research project is to launch the rapid test this fall already to help prepare for the next pandemic," Selfdiagnostics CEO Marko Lehis said. "The use of the technology will provide greater independence during a time when supply chains may be interrupted due to an emergency situation. Thus, such a capability and resource will help ensure national security and economic sustainability."
Selfdiagnostics OÜ is an Estonian capital-based developer and producer of medical equipment. The company has been developing medical diagnostics methods and equipment in cooperation with the University of Tartu Institute of Technology for over ten years. The project team includes Selfdiagnostics' academic and industrial partners as well as international experts. The development of the coronavirus rapid test is financed by the EIT Health community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
Recovered COVID-19 patients invited to donate plasma
TÜ, Tartu University Hospital (TÜK) and North Estonia Medical Center (PERH) are inviting those who have recovered from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to donate blood plasma as part of a clinical study of the efficiency of plasma therapy in the treatment of severely ill COVID-19 patients. Plasma can be donated by volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60 who are not regularly taking medications (with the exception of contraceptives). Eligibility for the study is being assessed in both Tallinn and Tartu. Eligible donors will be sent to the Blood Center at PERH for final assessment and plasma collection as said hospital is the only one in Estonia equipped for plasma collection.
Juri Karjagin, associate professor at TÜ's Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care and chair of anesthesiology and intensive care at TÜK, said that no medication is known ye to stop the reproduction of the coronavirus. What is known, however, is that people who have recovered from the virus have developed antibodies, which can be used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
"Plasma transfusions from people who have recovered from an infectious disease have been used to treat other patients who have contracted the same disease with both swine fever and SARS-1," Karjagin said. "The use of plasma from recovered patients has also been described during the current pandemic."
The clinical study will see donated plasma containing antibodies administered to infected patients to determine the effect thereof on the course of their treatment and changes in their virological and immunological markers.
Ain Kaare, head of the Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at TÜK, said that the expected result of plasma therapy is a reduced risk of the disease worsening and the need for intensive care emerging. Plasma collected from donors will be administered to a random sample of 20 patients from among a total of 40 COVID-19 patients being treated at either TÜK or PERH.
The pilot study being conducted by TÜ, TÜK and PERH has been approved by TÜ's research ethics committee as well as the State Agency of Medicines.