GIRF COVID-19 Response Fund launched

Gastro-Intestional Research Foundation (GIRF) a non-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to funding research at the University of Chicago to treat, cure, and prevent digestive disease has launched a GIRF COVID-19 Response Fund and are matching all donations up to $25,000 until Tuesday, April 7th. Contributions will go to UChicago’s healthcare workers on the front lines.

Link to fund: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/jj5r3Tb7Ew_XlS_wiM06YQ?mc_cid=382bedece2&mc_eid=4bee0310a4

GIRF’s Senior Medical Advisor and Chief of the GI Section, Dr. David Rubin, reports that the hospital and personnel are ready, and the GI Faculty and Fellows have been extraordinary in their efforts to prepare and to work together during these unprecedented times.

He said:

“The number of admissions of patients with COVID-19 to our hospital is rising daily. This morning I am working with the medical center incident command to identify our GI faculty who will be called up to work on the COVID-19 ward and in the Emergency Department. All faculty across every department are being repurposed in order to meet the needs of our patients and our community. Our gastroenterology trainees are being granted temporary privileges or being graduated early in order to add them to our workforce, should that become necessary.

The physician-scientists at the University of Chicago are also working on novel treatment protocols, point-of-care testing with coronavirus results in minutes, and approaches to using blood tests to identify exposed and immune individuals. It is now known that up to half the patients with COVID-19 have co-existing digestive symptoms, so we also have unique insight into these problems and are laser focused on addressing those problems and learning from them.

People are stressed and scared, but no one is backing down from their responsibilities. On the contrary, everyone is stepping up, together, at the same time. The camaraderie and shared resolve have been inspirational.

I am confident that with the ongoing help of our friends at GIRF, we will get through this terrible challenge, and be stronger because of it.”

For more information about GIRF’s mission, grants, and events, please visit https://giresearchfoundation.org/