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At the start of the pandemic, the Disease Diagnostics & Development (D3) Group led several crucial efforts in the fight against COVID-19.<\/strong> The team created a robust laboratory test for the virus as well as an improved specimen transport medium to enhance lab efficiency and safety (called the McMaster Molecular Medium). They validated robotic liquid handling machines and sample pooling techniques to dramatically increase testing capacity when it was needed most. (See The D3 Group: A story of innovation<\/em><\/a> from our 2020 Annual Report to learn more about these early developments.)<\/p>\n Since then, the D3 Group has expanded its use of the McMaster Molecular Medium (MMM), taken on many more COVID-19 research projects, and helped curb potential outbreaks in our community. Here we describe some of their larger projects during the 2021-22 fiscal year.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_empty_space height=”24″][vc_single_image image=”543″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”slideInLeft”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column] St. Joe\u2019s joined the McMaster Wastewater Study in 2021 with the aim of providing surveillance data from multiple wastewater sites in Southern Ontario, providing an edge to those studying the prevalence of COVID-19.<\/p>\n Specimen collection sites include three areas of McMaster University\u2019s Hamilton campus, as well as municipal locations in St. Thomas, Stratford, Goderich, Brantford, and Coburg. Scientists draw samples three times per week, every hour for a 24-hour period, to create a composite sample for each location.<\/p>\n Samples are taken to St. Joe\u2019s research laboratory at the Charlton campus where the testing is performed.<\/p>\n Dr. David Bulir, who heads the D3 Group, noted the ease at which his team could transition to monitoring other pathogens.<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″]Wastewater Testing<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n