"Let's go save some lives"

As the pandemic ripped through Arizona communities unimpeded, Arizona State University acted decisively to bend the curve of infections downward. Teams across the entire university sprang into action to meet the critical needs for testing and tracking the virus and providing vaccines. Though the initial shock of the pandemic may be behind us, researchers from disciplines across ASU are tackling challenges that still lie ahead, from improving vaccines and tracking viral variants to understanding and treating long COVID. More than 70 key players meet at 8 a.m., three days a week, to strategize and mobilize. ASU Biodesign Institute Executive Director Joshua LaBaer signs off each meeting with, “Let’s go save some lives.”

Within a year of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S., ASU researchers, faculty, staff, students and partners have:

Stood up and operated hundreds of COVID-19 testing sites throughout Arizona.

Provided keydata to track and predict the spread of the pandemic and its impact.

Set up a clinically approved and certified COVID-19 testing lab.

Developed and deployedthe first salivabased COVID-19 PCR test publicly available in the U.S.

Provided critical supplies to local hospitals and health care providers.

Earned national recognition for their joint state and university vaccination effort, called a “role model” for the nation by the White House.

Processed more than 800,000 free tests over a year with an average 27-hour turnaround time.

Delivered more than 1 million COVID-19 vaccines by partnering with state agencies to support logistics and staffing of 24/7 inoculation sites.

Received Arizona Governor’s Innovator of the Year award for COVID-19 response.

I joined the Knowledge Enterprise at the height of the pandemic. Witnessing this team of professionals operating at max capacity, with unparalleled resiliency, showed me the capability, adaptability and agility of this organization. It also demonstrated the power of our partnerships with local and state entities. What we have achieved together in the past year is nothing short of extraordinary. I extend my heartfelt appreciation for the contributions, the sacrifices and the commitment to ASU that each and every KE employee has made during this unprecedented period in time.

— Sally C. Morton, Executive Vice President for ASU Knowledge Enterprise