Open Philanthropy recommended a grant of $1,784,981 to Harvard University to support work led by Professor Michael Mina to carry out nationwide serological testing to determine current and past COVID-19 infection rates. The results could improve the accuracy of infection rate data, monitor for new evidence of outbreaks, and help inform measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 and future viral pandemics. This funding is intended to support the rapid serological analysis of thousands of banked blood samples and the collection of tens of thousands of new samples from sites distributed across the United States over the next two months. This effort will build a foundation for future ongoing surveillance throughout the United States.
This falls within Open Philanthropy's work on scientific research, specifically within its interest in science supporting biosecurity and pandemic preparedness.