The Franciscan University of Steubenville is conducting a re-search study to better under-stand COVID-19 and herd immunity.
Through its School of Natural Applied Sciences, the university plans to evaluate 500 students and faculty by the end of April. The study is led by biology professor Dr. Kyle McKenna.
The Biology Department and the Franciscan Institute of Science and Health provided for the initial costs of the study, but it recently received a grant by the American Life League.
According to a university statement, McKenna said senior nursing majors have already drawn blood from 200 indivi-duals. The blood is then analyzed for coronavirus antibodies.
“We want to know what percentage of people on campus demonstrate an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 virus,” said McKenna.
“To achieve herd immunity which limits transmission of the virus, you need at least 60 to 70 percent of a given population to be resistant to infection, either through exposure to the virus or vaccination.”