When helping to fight a pandemic, it is not uncommon to turn to unlikely resources for help. Since 1962, the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (known as CAMI) located on the grounds of the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City is known for conducting unique, world-class research in Aerospace Medicine and Human Factors. CAMI has the only civilian toxicology laboratory in the nation, designated as the primary laboratory for performing state-of-the-art toxicological tests involving civil aviation fatalities. The quality of their lab is further validated by the accreditation from the American Board of Forensic Toxicology.
In recent years, CAMI’s researchers have conducted studies to improve drug detection and to distinguish, via genomic tests, ingested alcohol vs. postmortem alcohol to aid in the identification of causes of aviation accidents. More recent investigations have involved a functional genomics team that conducts gene expression research. They analyze genetic information with computational methods assessing networks of environmentally responsive genes that can signal the occurrence of fatigue, hypoxia or exposure to other aeromedical stressors during flight.
So how does all this aerospace medicine play into fighting a pandemic? CAMI possesses a special instrument called a BioMark. It is an automated piece of equipment that uses microfluidics technology to process samples at nanoliter-scale volumes for gene expressions, genotyping, and sample identification. This equipment is ideal for laboratories that need to process hundreds to thousands of samples.
Like many other states across our nation, Oklahoma has been unable to test a substantial portion of its citizens for active infections with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Recent rulings by the Federal Drug Administration and the Governor of Oklahoma have now allowed the development of a test to be performed by the Pathology Department at the University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Medicine. As with existing tests, this will detect ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequences of select antigens in the SARS-CoV-2.
As part of the nation’s government-wide approach to slowing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, CAMI has loaned its BioMark System to the University of Oklahoma to help in the fight against COVID-19.
The 300-lb. high-definition biological tool is helping the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) to make COVID-19 testing readily available to Oklahomans. The BioMark system was developed by the south San Francisco-based Fludigm Corporation, and is known for conducting high-volume testing with single-cell sensitivity.
"When major threats arise, scientists from around the world come together to formulate and execute critical measures to detect, contain, and eradicate the danger. Powerful collaborations form, bringing enormous resources to bear on a problem that results in positive outcomes," said Melchor J. Antuñano, M.D., Director of the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute.
CAMI’s Functional Genomics Research Laboratory (FGRL) that houses the BioMark instrument is capable of large-scale testing of biological specimens for the presence of COVID-19 via gene expression analysis. The BioMark adds speed and critical capacity to the COVID-19 testing process.
"These collaborations will decrease the testing time and reduce the waiting period for results. The more rapid data gathering will not only assist doctors with diagnoses, but will also allow researchers and policy makers to make critical decisions more quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dr. Antuñano. Stopping the spread is a challenge in states like Oklahoma that have been unable to test a substantial portion of its citizens for active infection. FAA’s CAMI is partnering with leading Oklahoma medical institutions to help meet the community’s testing needs.
Contributing to the efforts, OMRF is also supplying a BioMark system and ancillary instruments that have been temporarily relocated to the designated space for this novel diagnostic effort, on the OU Health Sciences Center campus. Having two BioMark systems in place allows the analysis of several thousands of samples per day. Also, the efficiency of these systems permits the analyses to be conducted with 90% savings of the chemical reagents used in the testing process. This unique collaboration of organizations permits the conservation of scarce resources that would otherwise add strain to a supply system that is already stressed; which is crucial as these compounds are currently in short supply.
OU Medicine’s Pathology Department coordinated with the Oklahoma State Department of Health. OU Medicine received the first clinical samples, recorded them, and then extracted the RNA – all under vigilant conditions of protecting personnel from infection. Volunteers from the OMRF are analyzing the extracts using the BioMark instruments. The results are reported to the pathology staff at OU Medicine, the ordering physician, and the State’s Department of Health.
"The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, once again, that academic institutions, industry, and governmental organizations can come together to fight this common enemy," said Dr. Antuñano. "The ultimate goal is to shorten the pandemic and bring some normalcy back to our lives."
