Open Philanthropy recommended a grant of $348,000 to the University of Michigan to support the production of antigenic proteins from the COVID-19 virus for use in serological tests, led by Professor Aubree Gordon. This funding is intended to support protein production, strain optimization, serological test validation, and the shipment of proteins to other laboratories in the United States and abroad for use in serological tests. The tests could expedite the selection of plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 for use in treatments against the virus.
This falls within Open Philanthropy's work on scientific research, specifically within its interest in science supporting biosecurity and pandemic preparedness.