up next Andre Kalil
Andre Kalil
testing remdesivir
How an Infectious Disease Physician and Researcher is Testing a Drug Treatment for COVID-19
December 2020
In December of 2020, the US record for hospitalized COVID-19 patients soared past its record from April to an all-time high of over 100,000. As more people are hospitalized, the pandemic’s effect is increasingly felt across the nation. Vaccines are beginning to make their way to citizens across the world, but it’s still critical to manage the health of patients in our healthcare systems.
Enter the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Dr. Andre Kalil, an internal medicine professor and an infectious diseases physician. Kalil led the first National Institute of Health trial to evaluate experimental COVID-19 treatments, focusing on the anti-viral drug remdesivir.
In February of 2020, UNMC saw COVID-19 moving quickly through European countries. They started making plans to prepare for a potential epidemic here—and when the virus began affecting patients in the U.S., they already had plans to start a clinical trial. Kalil said, “We started the process of designing a study to find new therapies for a virus that, up to that time, we had never seen before.” At that time, there were no proven and effective treatments for COVID-19—so the opportunity to test remdesivir was important.
Kalil believes UNMC is uniquely qualified to lead the remdesivir study. The Medical Center has one of only a few biocontainment units in the country, which housed Ebola patients in 2014 and is housing COVID-19 patients today.
“The hope is that we'll have multiple different treatments that we can use in different stages of the disease—alone or in combination.”
–Andre Kalil
UNMC began with testing remdesivir and is now in its third phase of the trial, this time testing remdesivir in combination with a medication used to treat multiple sclerosis. While studies are ongoing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19.
Kalil is motivated by the opportunity to make a difference. “The hope is that we'll have multiple different treatments that we can use in different stages of the disease—alone or in combination,” he said. “That drives 100% of my professional motivation—making sure that I can make the lives of my patients better and that I can save them.”
Listen to more "Leading Nebraska" stories or follow our podcast
Discover our Podcast Series
The “Leading Nebraska” podcast shares the stories of the researchers, students, teachers and others across the University of Nebraska's four campuses who are making an impact. From teachers and doctors to engineers and ag experts, these Nebraska leaders are touching lives and making a difference.
Sorry, no stories match your filters.
Please adjust your filters above to view more stories.
Find Your Nebraska State Senator
Get started by entering your address below. Next, you'll receive information on who your senator is—and how to reach him or her.
Making a call only takes a few minutes and sends a strong message to your state senator. Your senator may not be able to take the call, but you can speak to the legislative aide who works for the senator. They will log your call, take a message and pass it on. Keep your conversation brief, and be sure to cover these essential points:
- Introduce yourself as a constituent in their district and provide your name.
- Be clear that you're calling about your support for the University of Nebraska System.
- Share your story about how the University has impacted you or your family. A personal story is hard to ignore. Explain why it's important to you that your senator invests in the University of Nebraska. Again, keep it brief and to-the-point.
- Ask for your opinion to be noted. Politely finish the call by thanking the senator or legislative aide for their time.
Send an Email
Sending a written message to your state senator is an easy way to engage your representative. They're more concise and easier to respond to, and they're more likely to be viewed by the senator. If you can, send a personalized message with these essential points. Keep your message brief (a paragraph or so).
- Write a personal, attention-getting subject line that lets the senator know your topic— "Investing in the University of Nebraska System" or "Supporting the University of Nebraska System"
- Introduce yourself as a constituent in their district; provide your name.
- Be clear that you're writing about your support for the University of Nebraska System
- Share your personal story about how the University has impacted you or your family. Explain why it's important to you that your senator invests in the University of Nebraska. Again, keep it brief and to-the-point.
- Ask if your senator will support the University moving forward.
- Indicate that you'd appreciate a reply and thank your senator for their time.
You Just Made a Difference
Keep making a difference by becoming an NU Advocate. As an Advocate, you'll receive communications about important issues and legislative bills concerning the University of Nebraska—and you'll be the first to hear about upcoming advocacy events. And, we'll let you know when you need to raise your voice again.
COOKIE USAGE:
The University of Nebraska System uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By clicking "I Agree" and/or continuing to use this website without adjusting your browser settings, you accept the use of cookies.