FARAH - ULiège 
" As of today, one of the most promising therapeutic solutions against COVID-19 is the use of convalescent plasma. A subset of the antibodies present in this plasma are able to bind the surface proteins of the virus, chiefly the Spike (attachment) protein, and to neutralize the ability of viral particles to infect permissive cells. Upon request of the Red Cross and ULiège CHU hospital, we developed seroneutralization assays to determine the titers in neutralizing antibodies of convalescent plasma. In collaboration with KU Leuven (Rega) and ITM Antwerp, we just completed an interlaboratory ring test. We screen convalescent plasmas on a routine basis for the Croix Rouge and Rode Kruis. Only plasmas with a titer in neutralizing antibodies above the cut-off value will be used therapeutically. The scarcity of the scientific literature on the subject (only a few studies on the therapeutic use of convalescent plasmas are currently available) make it difficult to fix a cut-off...

Read more: Mutien Garigliany, Professor - Daniel Desmecht, Professor

Malcourant Mécanique
" We have developed a semi-automatic machine to weld polyethylene sheets in order to make the COVID-19 protective mask envelope. This development has been carried out entirely in-house, study - manufacture - assembly. We called the company ICS to improve the working conditions for the welding jaws. "
Contact: malcourant-mecanique.be incosol4u.com

ULiège
" Using digital fabrication machines (laser cutter, 3D printing), the Fablab of the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department of the Université de Liège has produced protective solutions (mainly Protective Face Shields) to protect healthcares from aerosol projection. These protective solutions have been distributed to the caregivers in hospitals in the region of Liège. A multidisciplinary team (PhD students and technicians under the supervision of a academic professor) at the Fablab from the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department of the Université de Liège (Belgium) has developed and produced emergency protective solutions against Covid-19 for hospitals and caregivers. Most of these solutions have been developed using digital fabrication machines (laser cutter, 3D printers,...). We have produced mainly Protective Face Shields to protect caregivers from aerosol projection. A few thousand protections have been produced and distributed to caregivers from the CHU of...

Read more: Pierre Duysinx, Professor - Simon Bauduin - Pablo Alarcon - Trillet Denis - Joffrey Coheur - Laura...

UCLouvain - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" 3D printing of protective visors "
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ULiège
" The Centre Spatial de Liege is developing a process for mask recycling by cleaning, decontamination and dehydradation. The process combines ethanol/water mix cleaning with an innovative outgassing step under vacuum. The decontamination is already proven thanks to the collaboration with the Veterinary Faculty . The outgassing step aims to retrieve mask performance (mainly filtration efficiency) close to original. "
Funding: No, internal ULiege project
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GIGA-Institute, ULiège - FNRS - Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
" The main objective of our research program is the identification of human genetic factors impacting the COVID19 pandemic. Within the COVID-19 host genetics initiative (https://www.covid19hg.org/), we will establish a shared set of phenotypes to be combined with genomic data for standard GWAS and further meta-analysis. Field of expertise of our laboratory : genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, immune-response related diseases. In addition, the GIGA Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute from the ULiege devoted to academic excellence in the biomedical sciences to foster ground-breaking medical innovation. It comprises 583 members attached to six faculties (Medicine, Science, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Agbiotech, Psychology) that are organized in four disease-based (neuroscience, cancer, infection-inflammation-immunity, cardiovascular) and two method-based thematic units...

Read more: Souad Rahmouni, Doctor

Innovative Coating Solutions
" Within the framework of mask making, ICS has been contacted by the company Malcourant (GBLX) which developed special machines to produce polymer (Polyethylene) based masks. The process requires thermal welding of polymer foils. That process happens around 170°C, in between two pressed and heated jaws. Unfortunately, adhesion of the polyethylene on either Al or Cu jaw is observed. ICS develops special coatings and made available a carbon based coating that prevents the adhesion on the jaw, but allow also multiple cycles of heating/cooling. These coatings have been successfully applied on the aluminium and copper prototypes. They exhibit very good adhesion, and prevent the polyethylene sticking on the jaws even after a large number of cycles. No delamination has been observed so far. "
Contact: Stéphane Lucas, Innovative Coating Solutions, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Patrick Powis, Malcourant-Mécanique, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.