A total of 61 applications were received from 145 Investigators, of those 21 were awarded a combined total of $431,562.
The BU CTSI congratulates all of these outstanding researchers for their efforts toward solving the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christie Bielmeier, PhD
Senior Lecturer (BUMechE)
Joshua Barocas, MD
Asst. Prof.
of Medicine (BUSM)
Joyce Y. Wong, PhD
 Professor (BME, MSE), (BU)
Sneckie PPE: Quick Dry and Comfortable Masks for the Homeless

This research proposes to test and rate the protection level of commercially available face masks that resist moisture, dry quickly, and restrict permeability,
to assist homeless populations from contracting COVID-19. .
Cara Stepp, PhD Assoc. Prof. of Otolaryngology & BME ( BU)
Lauren Tracy, MD
Asst. Prof. of Otolaryngology (BUSM)
Hasini Weerathung
PhD student in BME (BU)
Accuracy of Acoustic Measures of Voice via Tele-Therapy Platforms

This project will assess which acoustic measures are valid when used during telehealth and leverage an existing database of acoustic recordings from individuals with voice disorders, recorded in-person in a soundproof booth.
Alice White, PhD
Professor of ME, MSE, BME, Physics
 (BU)
Mark W. Grinstaff, PhD
Professor of Chemistry, BME, MSE, & Medicine (BU & BUSM)
Jessie Song
PhD student in BME (BU)
3D Printed COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swabs

The proposal is to develop a novel stereolithography-based, 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab that due to its innovations in design, allows for better sampling of the nasal cavity; readily accessible manufacturing done on site and on demand, using a biocompatible and sterilizable photoresist, ensures the availability of nasopharyngeal swabs; and adaptability to current work-flow procedures in the clinical microbiology & molecular diagnostics centers of hospitals.
Elizabeth Barnett, MD
Professor of Pediatrics (BUSM)
Elisha Wachman, MD
Assoc. Prof. of Pediatrics (BUSM)
COVID-19 in Pregnant Women and in Their Infant s

The research aims to enroll women, who had COVID-19 any time during pregnancy, and their infants to assess clinical and laboratory findings of COVID-19 infection, including presence of antibody to SARS-CoV-2 in blood and breast milk around the time of birth and six weeks later.
Patricia Elliott, DrPH
Clinical Asst. Prof. of Community Health Sciences (BUSPH)
Jacey Greece, DSc, MPH
Clinical Assoc. Prof. of Community Health Sciences (BUSPH)
Rapid Analysis of the Academic Public Health Volunteer Corps COVID-19 Deployment

This pilot research will study the deployment of the APHVC and its ability to meet the needs of local public health, and result in the development and dissemination of a case and toolkit for the replication of the model across the United States, both for COVID-19 efforts and as a foundation for other rapid PH efforts.
Andrew Emili, PhD
Professor of Biology & Biochemistry (BUSM)
Catherine E. Costello, PhD
The William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor (BUSM)
Defining the Spike-ACE2 Glycoprotein Interface Driving
SARS-CoVID-2 Infection

This project will use state-of-the-art quantitative mass spectrometry and photo-proximity labeling to study how the virus binds to and hijacks the host cellular protein machinery via a network of protein-protein and protein-glycan interactions with human cell surface receptors, with the aim of finding clinically actionable targets to thwart infection and immune evasion.
Markus Bosmann, MD
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine (BUSM)
A Transcriptome Atlas of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in K18-hACE2 Mice
Dr. Bosmann and his co-workers will study the transcriptional responses of lung cells to infection with SARS-CoV-2 in live organisms. The project aims to establish a knowledge basis for the future development of targeted treatment approaches.
Jeff Browning, PhD
Research Prof. Microbiology (BUSM)
Development of a Bead-Based FACS Detection System for Anti-COVID-19 Antibodies
Dr. Browning and his co-workers will pilot a bead-based multiplexed platform using a FACS readout to explore various antigens in
a higher dimensional format.
Florian Douam, PhD
Asst. Prof. of Microbiology (BUSM)
Initial Characterization of a Viral Vaccine Platform Against
SARS-CoV-2
This project will provide critical support to characterize the replication ability of our 17D-CoV vaccines in cell culture and evaluate the ability of antibodies induced by our 17D-CoV vaccines to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture. 
Emily Feinberg, ScD, CPNP
Assoc. Prof. of Pediatrics
(BUSM & BUSPH)
Impact of COVID-19 on
Vulnerable Families
The goal is to provide empirical data, rapidly, that can be used to target programmaticand policy initiatives to support family well-being and resilience. By enrolling families of children with developmental and psychosocial risk from past and ongoing studies, researchers are in a unique position to identify a diverse sample of families likely to be highly impacted by the pandemic and to follow them over time.
Miriam Harris, MD
Asst. Prof. of Medicine and Addiction Medicine Fellow (BUSM)
Understanding the COVID-19
Pandemic Impact on People
at High-Risk for Overdose
This study seeks to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements have affected survivors of opioid overdose with severe to moderate OUD drug use behaviors, treatment experiences, and COVID-19 prevention behaviors.
Heather Hsu, MD, MPH
Asst. Prof. of Pediatrics (BUSM)
Virtual COVID-19
Clinical Data Repository
Dr. Hsu received CTSI funding to lead Boston Medical Center’s effort to develop a COVID-19 clinical data repository using electronic medical records data.
W. Evan Johnson, PhD
Assoc. Prof. & Assoc. Chief of the Division of CBM (BUSM)
Mechanisms and Biomarkers
for COVID-19 Progression
The goal is to develop preliminary biomarkers for predicting severe disease and to gain preliminary mechanistic insight on the molecular mechanisms associated with and predictive of severe COVID-19 disease.
Vijaya Kolachalama, PhD
Asst. Prof. of Medicine (BUSM)
Deep Learning for CV Risk in
COVID-19 Patients
This project aims to develop an advanced machine learning approach (known as generative adversarial learning) to integrate clinical and imaging data to develop a predictive model of cardiovascular risk among COVID-19 patients who are early in their disease trajectory, to best optimize resources and outcomes.
Elke Mühlberger, PhD
Assoc. Prof. (BUSM)
SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Genetics Systems
This research establishes a recombinant system that enables the generation of
SARS-CoV-2 clones expressing fluorescent reporter proteins. Replication of the recombinant virus in infected cells leads to the expression of the reporter gene and allows easy discrimination between infected and non-infected cells.
Yannis Paschalidis, PhD
Professor (ECE, BME, SE) (BU)
Predictive Models of
COVID-19 Outcomes
The goal of this project is to develop personalized predictive models with the ability to accurately predict hospitalizations of infected patients, need for ICU treatment among the infected hospitalized patients, need for intubation among the infected hospitalized patients, and mortality.
Julia Raifman, ScD, SM
Asst. Prof. of Quantitative Methods for HSPR (BUSPH)
COVID-19 State Policy Database
and Disparities
This project aims to expand the database with a focus on policies that affect those most vulnerable to COVID-19, and its ramifications as a public good for researchers, policymakers, and the public. 
Mark Sloan, MD
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine (BUSM)
Etoposide in COVID-19 Patients
This research will explore if etoposide—which attacks the cells responsible for inflammation—is an effective means to help the sickest COVID patients.
Andrea Spencer, MD
Asst. Prof. of Psychiatry (BUSM)
Longitudinal Study of Child Mental Health During COVID-19
This is a 6-month longitudinal study to determine both the acute and ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of urban school-age children, using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist as the primary outcome measure.
Andrew Wilson, MD
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine (BUSM)
Defining the Identity of Primary Lung Cell Types Infected by SARS-CoV-2
This proposal aims to study tissue samples from the lungs of BMC patients who have passed away due to complications of
COVID-19, to identify the cell types in the lung that are infected with SARS-CoV-2. . 
Joyce Y. Wong
Professor (BME, MSE), (BU)
Functionalized Nanoparticles for
SARS-CoV-2 Detection
The proposed nanotechnological diagnostic test would sample saliva and mucus from sneezing, coughing and speaking – all ways the coronavirus is spread.
Additional Information about our Awardees and their COVID-19 Related Research Projects
Boston University Clinical & Translational Science Institute
Accelerating Discoveries Towards Better Health 
b u.edu/ctsi | ncats.nih.gov