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Bishop Helps Secure $27M Contract for Wake Forest, Atrium COVID-19 Study

Press Release

Date: July 7, 2020
Location: Charlotte, NC
Issues: Health and Health Care

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at the urging of Congressman Dan Bishop (NC-09), Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-01), Senator Thom Tillis (NC) and Senator Bill Cassidy (LA), awarded Vysnova Partners a $27 million contract to conduct studies on COVID-19 surveillance and antibody testing in part at Wake Forest Baptist Health and Atrium Health.

"I commend the CDC for recognizing the cutting-edge coronavirus research anchored right in North Carolina. This study will inform not only our state's response to coronavirus, but national preparedness and recovery," said Rep. Bishop. "Data is key as we weigh safe reopening of the economy and public health."

"Wake Forest Baptist and Atrium have been at the forefront of studying and tracking COVID-19. Their study has already produced eye-opening results. I'm thankful the North Carolina General Assembly was able to provide initial funding for this study and lead the way in researching the coronavirus," said North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). "Rep. Dan Bishop has been relentlessly fighting to secure additional funding at the federal level. His hard work will help our nation's understanding of this virus, so we can make informed, data-driven decisions as we reopen."

The study involves both syndromic surveillance to track COVID-19 symptoms and hot-spots in real-time and developing widespread antibody testing. $100,000 was provided by the North Carolina state legislature to fund an initial 12,000 volunteers in Western North Carolina. The contract provides $27 million in funding for the testing project including the core program at Wake Forest Baptist Health and Atrium Health, and adds MedStar Health, University of Maryland, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, and the George Washington University Biostatistics Center as part of the expansion program.

For more information on the federal government's coronavirus response, please click here.


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