Equally important to preventing new infections with the novel coronavirus is treating existing ones. Two anti-malarial drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, are currently being investigated as COVID-19 treatments, though their utility and safety is uncertain. College of Pharmacy assistant professor Dr. Jianqin Lu and professor Dr. Xinxin Ding will use nanotechnology to improve the delivery of these drugs. Through this method, they aim to enhance drug efficacy and minimize toxicity.

Dr. Koenraad Van Doorslaer, assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Dr. Michael Johnson, assistant professor of immunobiology, are investigating the use of copper compounds in preventing infection with SARS-CoV-2 – the etiological agent behind COVID-19. They are beginning their studies on a related coronavirus. If successful, the team will test successful compounds against the novel COVID-19 virus.

In a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Curtis Thorne, assistant professor of cellular and molecular medicine, is teaming up with Dr. Koenraad Van Doorslaer, assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, to identify therapies to prevent and treat infection with SARS-CoV-2. The pair uses image-based screening techniques to identify compounds that may interfere with the ability of the virus to infect and cause long-lasting infections. They are also developing a technique to study the replication of the novel coronavirus and plan to share it with other UArizona researchers studying COVID-19.

Something about the novel coronavirus has enabled it to expertly infect humans, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Samuel Campos, associate professor of immunobiology; Dr. Scott Boitano, professor of physiology; and Dr. Ken Knox, professor of medicine, are in search of that special something. The three researchers, representing the College of Medicine – Tucson, will investigate how the evolutionary adaptation of a key viral structure may have enabled this novel strain to cause rapid worldwide disease. Knowledge generated from their work may inform potential prevention and treatment strategies.