{"id":27510,"date":"2020-05-01T11:46:25","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T15:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cna.flywheelsites.com\/?p=27510"},"modified":"2020-08-21T11:46:38","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T15:46:38","slug":"canadian-nuclear-laboratories-turns-to-innovation-to-help-canada-combat-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cna.ca\/fr\/2020\/05\/01\/canadian-nuclear-laboratories-turns-to-innovation-to-help-canada-combat-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian Nuclear Laboratories turns to innovation to help Canada combat COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When the COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold, scientists, engineers and technical experts at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) recognized they had a role to play to help Canada effectively respond to the crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Canada\u2019s national nuclear laboratory, CNL is home to unique and innovative facilities, laboratories, equipment and expertise. While CNL\u2019s work isn\u2019t directly related to infectious diseases, these resources and talents are adaptable. They are being redirected to join the fight against COVID-19. CNL is applying its depth of expertise in design, engineering, construction, containment and decontamination in the fight against this pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCNL has a long and proud history in the development of innovative tools and technologies that have improved the health and well-being of Canadians and people around the world,\u201d wrote Joe McBrearty, CNL\u2019s president and CEO, in a note to employees. \u201cThis pandemic is another challenge where we can turn to innovation, creativity and the ingenuity of our staff to help make a difference in people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company started by creating a web portal and inviting employees and retirees to share ideas on how CNL could help Canada fight and recover from the pandemic. \u201cIn less than 24 hours, we fielded over 150 ideas and suggestions from staff and alumni, and efforts are underway to mobilize on the opportunities we can move forward on,\u201d CNL shared on its Facebook page on March 25<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNL launched taskforces to analyze the ideas and deliver the solutions to the federal government, agencies and the health-care officials who need them. CNL is also reaching out to organizations within its local communities to determine where it could help in their response efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the staff who answered the call was a team of employees from CNL\u2019s Science and Technology, and Engineering departments. While CNL normally uses 3-D printers to make components for the nuclear industry, they shifted production to make face shields for overstretched health-care workers battling COVID-19 on the front lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe call-to-action put out by our own executive really set the tone to think about how we could put CNL\u2019s assets to work,\u201d explained Scott Read, a research and development officer at CNL who worked on the project. \u201cWe realized that we shouldn\u2019t wait for the health-care system to tell us they need more personal protective equipment before we start manufacturing them. After a quick Skype chat with our manager to discuss the feasibility and urgency, we were on our way to producing our first face shield prototype.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNL wasn\u2019t alone in its belief that it could help confront COVID-19. Leading members of the international research community also turned to the company for support. For example, Nobel laureate Dr. Art MacDonald contacted CNL and other national and international laboratories to help develop a low-cost ventilator that could be constructed using off-the-shelf, easily accessible parts. The project has received major coverage from national media outlets and even caught the attention of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The laboratory has also designed and constructed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n