VCU RECEIVES $363 MILLION

IN RESEARCH FUNDS; 25% INCREASE SINCE 2018

LINDSEY WEST

Contributing Writer

Continued from front page

Another research study is from VCU Health’s Smell and Taste Disorders Center, which is tracking the long-term effects COVID-19 has on sense of smell. The study has found that individuals under 40 are more likely to fully recover their loss of smell from COVID-19.

Co-researcher on the study, Evan Reiter, stated in a VCU Health press release that four out of five people infected with

COVID-19 regained their sense of smell within six months.

“However, 20% is still a lot of people, given the millions that have been afflicted with COVID-19,” Reiter stated.

COVID-19 shutdowns originally hindered the researchers’ ability to access lab equipment and other resources, according to Rao.

“There were some who were able to do computational research where all they needed was a computer from where they were in their homes, but a number of them had to work in labs; for them, it was a huge problem,” Rao said.

On the contrary, COVID-19 provided many opportunities to study the virus itself and virus-related topics, according to Rao. “Whether it had to do with vaccines or tri als or issues related to rental evictions or labor issues, or issues that the elderly were facing, they [researchers] quickly came up with op portunities for addressing that,” Rao said.

A webinar will be held by P. Srirama Rao and VCU President Michael Rao on Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. to discuss future research plans, including interdisciplinary research between schools. Questions regarding research fund allocations can be submitted through the webinar’s sign-up page.