MONTREAL, June 3, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The TELUS
Friendly Future Foundation has made a major donation of
$170,000 to the Centre hospitalier de
l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and its Research Centre to support
an innovative project directly focused on the needs arising from
the health crisis. The funds will help develop an alternative to
nasopharyngeal swabs to address anticipated shortages of
traditional swabs. To achieve this, researchers at the Research
Centre of the CHUM are focusing on a 3D printing strategy where
engineers, researchers and clinicians combine their efforts to
design, prototype and manufacture materials that will be tested by
clinicians to address critical supply chain shortages.
"In the face of this urgent need for action, the Fondation du
CHUM is extremely grateful that its project has been selected by
the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation. It is an honour to be able to
count on this support to carry out the research project for the
production and 3D printing of swabs, an innovative project where
cutting-edge technology allows us to develop autonomy in order to
better cope with the current crisis," said Julie Chaurette, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Fondation du CHUM.
Since nasopharyngeal swabs are the preferred sampling method for
rapid detection of COVID-19, it is essential to find an alternative
to traditional swabs. This will allow teams at the CHUM, a
specialized COVID-19 facility, to maintain their ability to
diagnose infected patients in order to isolate them and limit the
spread of the virus within the population.
"Thanks to the innovative solutions of the Fondation du CHUM, we
are confident that our contribution will facilitate COVID-19
screening in Quebec. Staying true
to its social mission to build a promising future through
technology, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is proud to
contribute financially to the research and production of a new
generation of swabs to prevent the spread of coronavirus
within our communities," said François Gratton, Executive
Vice-President, Group President, TELUS and Chair, TELUS Health and
TELUS Québec.
About the Fondation du CHUM
The Fondation's mission is to provide a complementary source of
funding for the CHUM. These funds will work to ensure that the
centre maintains its status as a standard-setting and
internationally recognized institution for medical treatment,
teaching and research.
The Fondation du CHUM serves as a catalyst and a driving force
in carrying out the CHUM's mission, with its numerous initiatives,
fundraising activities (direct mailings, canvassing of individual
donors, private foundations and corporations) and its capital
fundraising campaign. It organizes benefit events whose reputation
is now established. The Fondation also engages in complementary
initiatives (which include the Clinique Santé-voyage) that have
allowed it to achieve self-sustainability.
To learn more about the Fondation du CHUM, visit
https://fondationduchum.com/en/ or follow us on Facebook
(facebook.com/FondationCHUM)
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading
communications and information technology company with $14.7 billion in annual revenue and
15.2 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP,
voice, television, entertainment, video and security. We leverage
our global-leading technology to enable remarkable human outcomes.
Our long-standing commitment to putting customers first fuels every
aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer
service excellence and loyalty. TELUS Health is Canada's largest health care IT provider, and
TELUS International delivers the most innovative business process
solutions to some of the world's most established brands.
Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all Canadians
for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give
where we live has inspired our team members and retirees to
contribute more than $700 million and 1.3 million days of
service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled
volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the
world.
SOURCE Fondation du CHUM