New variants of the COVID-19 virus could mean we'll need an annual shot to fight the coronavirus, just like with the flu. Health experts are concerned that new versions of the virus could spread more easily and vaccines might be less effective against it. University of Arizona molecular scientist Donata Vercelli studies cellular mutations at the BIO5 Institute. She believes an annual booster shot may be necessary to keep COVID in check.

James Knitter, MD, a research assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, is co-author of an article that states high-efficiency masks, which include the N95 respirators used by healthcare workers, could reduce the chances of contracting the coronavirus — thus help saving lives and helping speed the return of our economy.

Researchers at the University of Arizona are working to develop a smartphone COVID-19 test, with test results within minutes. “It’s extremely sensitive. It takes less than ten minutes,” said Dr. Kelly Reynolds, professor and chair of the Department of Community, Environmental and Policy in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Dr. Joe Gerald, associate professor and director of the public health policy and management program at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and Dr. Christian Bime, professor of medicine at UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson and ICU medical director at Banner – University Medical Center, are interviewed.

Researchers at the University of Arizona are developing a COVID-19 testing method that uses a smartphone microscope to analyze saliva samples and deliver results in about 10 minutes. The team's latest research using water samples—done in collaboration with Kelly A. Reynolds, chair of the Department of Community, Environment and Policy at the UArizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health—is published today in Nature Protocols.

Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences are working to better understand the potential environmental and occupational health risks specific to women in the fire service. The study, which is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will examine how firefighting affects women's stress levels, risk of cancer and reproductive health outcomes.

Deepta Bhattacharya, an associate professor in the Department of Immunobiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, is deeply involved in research related to COVID-19. His lab is a leader in researching how vaccines generate an adequate immune response to the virus including their safety, efficacy, and role in getting us past the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccination programs are slowly gaining momentum as people line up for their shots. University of Arizona immunologist Elizabeth Connick, MD, at the College of Medicine – Tucson answers some of the questions people still are asking about the vaccine, like how and when we'll know if it's helping turn the tide in the pandemic fight.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, along with partners, Cox Communications and the Arizona SciTech Institute, present Connect2STEM 2021 — a series of live virtual events on January 30 at 10 AM MST showcasing the wonders of science, technology, engineering, math and medicine (STEM). The wildly popular event has been reimagined as an online interactive pavilion with activities led by physicians, performers and STEM professionals. For more information to access the full schedule of live programs or to register, visit phoenixmed.arizona.edu/C2S.