Welcome and Opening Statements

• A reminder to all HC-SIG members that this meeting is being recorded
  • Videoconferencing/teleconferencing connect details are available here
    
    

• Reading of the Linux Foundation Antitrust Policy

  • Hyperledger Antitrust Slide

Introductions

• If you’re new to the group, please…

  • Introduce yourself

  • Tell us where you're geographically located

  • Share with us your interests in healthcare in general, and blockchain technologies in specific

  • Consider posting your contact information in our HC-SIG Membership Directory
  • Questions? Review our HC-SIG FAQ for answers

Community Announcements

• A special notice from our HC-SIG Payer Subgroup
  • The HC-SIG Payer Subgroup is kicking off their Pharmacy PoC starting next week
    • The workshop effort will utilize Hyperledger Fabric and Joget's low-code platform to develop this PoC

• Do you have any announcements that you'd like to share with the HC-SIG community?

  • Feel free to make an announcement here, on our Rocket.Chat channel, or via our email listserv

Special Topic: Conquering the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic

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How can blockchain technologies have a positive impact on the identification, prevention, and management of this pandemic?

• How might innovative blockchain technologies--including DLTs, SSI, and cryptocurrencies/tokens--solutions help to:
  • Slow the progression of this deadly virus
  • Manage life-saving logistics networks and medical supply chains with improved throughput and efficiencies
  • Serve as a means for more timely and more accurate healthcare communications model across communities, states, provinces, and countries

Special Guest Speaker

• Wendy Charles, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at BurstIQ 
  • Wendy will present on COVID-19 epidemiology research and how to think through a blockchain-based public health project, using contact tracing blockchain apps as an example (of how not to do it, actually)
  • As well, Wendy will talk about the Research Foundry, a humanitarian project sponsored by BurstIQ, but is a non-revenue generating activity to bring blockchain programmers/enthusiasts and researchers together to ensure solid research. COVID-19 research initiatives are currently under way.

Status and Funding/Support from Around the World

• Global

  • Grant Opportunities Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Updated APR 27. GrantStation is now offering a filtering service for globally-available COVID-19 virus grants for non-profits and small businesses.

• Canada
• Canadian 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Rapid Research Funding Opportunity. 

• On March 31, 2020, through a contribution from Research Manitoba, Research Nova Scotia, and Alberta Innovates, CIHR was able to fund an additional three grants, bringing the total number of funded grants to 99 and a total investment of $54.2M.

Status and Funding/Support in the US

On MAR 17, Open Call for Solutions issued. UPDATE: this call is now closed. Brigham and Women's Emergency Department is calling for text based platforms to help healthcare professionals (clinicians, receptionists, technicians, and others) monitor symptoms of coronavirus, report burnout, and access helpful resources. The tool would be used by clinicians, receptionists, technicians and others in the healthcare field. If selected, it would roll out in the Brigham Emergency Department first.

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses (SBIRs/STTRs). Updated MAR 27. The NCI participates in the NIH-issued SBIR and an STTR Omnibus grant solicitation for small businesses, which allow small businesses to submit researcher-initiated projects that are within NIH’s mission. 
   
• National Institute of Health (NIH) Funding Opportunities. Updated

MAR 26

• APR 27. Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional) recently updated through "Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Availability of Administrative Supplements and Revision Supplements on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)."

Additional details available here.

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NEW: 

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• COVID Help for Families. A match-making service for for those offering help and those seeking help during this pandemic. Help Seekers can post urgent needs for Helpers in their area to see and fulfill. Helpers will be able to see those help requests in their area and offer help. The Helpers can get in touch with the Help Seekers and deliver the help that is requested
  
  
  

• Additional COVID-19 Funding Opportunities
  • UC Davis Office of Research

 provides

• • . Updated APR 27. Provides a regularly updated set of links tied to COVID-19 funding opportunities across numerous US agencies, including Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Gates Foundation

Next Meeting

• Scheduled for Friday, 2020.05.15, 0700 Pacific Time

• Discussion: topics to add to agenda?