Summer Decker, PhD, and her 3D clinical applications team was presented with the inaugural Kolosky Award from the Tampa Innovation Partners Oct. 28. Dr. Decker, who is associate professor, vice chair for Research and Innovation, and director for 3D Clinical Applications in the Department of Radiology in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and her team were nominated by the USF Research and Innovation for the global impact her team continues to make during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kolosky Award is named after the retired president of Moffitt Cancer Center and recognizes health care innovation.
When local communities, and the world, faced a shortage of swabs in COVID-19 tests, Dr. Decker and her team went to work to create a 3D printed nasal swab to address the shortage. The 3D swab offered a viable and cost-efficient option with comparable accuracy in detecting the virus. The USF-patented design has been produced into more than 80 millions swabs in more than 50 countries. “This was a true interdisciplinary collaboration and proof that by working together, we can accomplish amazing things,” Dr. Decker said.