COVID-19 Volunteer Testing Network
Mike Fischer (1968, Physics), CBE, Honorary Fellow, has founded the COVID-19 Volunteer Testing Network and donated £1 million to the initiative. Mike directs SBL (Systems Biology Laboratory UK), an independent non-profit medical research laboratory in Oxfordshire.
In March, following suggestions from his team, Mike converted the lab to test for COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines, which are commonly used for genetic testing.. The lab began by providing 250-500 tests a week to local NHS health care workers with a half-day turnaround. Mike created the COVID Testing Network to expand these services and help fight the battle against COVID-19 across the UK.
The COVID Testing Network now provides testing plans for commercial workforces of between 25-10,000 people with same-day results. They’re also continuing to screen local NHS workers regularly.
Mike Fischer is also one of the co-founders of Alamy, a stock photography company.
Published: 26 August 2020
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