Rice360 SPUR (Specialized Unit for Respiratory Research) is envisioned as a hub for open-source technical innovation and clinical advancement in global respiratory technology.
The group is organized around five elements:
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focused development
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targeted solutions
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leadership and education
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open-source ecosystems
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creating a physical technical/clinical hub for assessment and implementation
Mission & Purpose
SPUR’s goal is to foster innovation and improve the standards in respiratory care. Currently, access to global respiratory technology remains inequitable and inefficient. The worldwide rise in COVID-19 cases demonstrated the limitations of existing technologies to meet the global needs for respiratory support, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The most significant mismatch between existing respiratory technology and what is required in the clinical setting occurs in low-resource settings. Many devices are designed without consideration of those using said device within a low-resource setting, resulting in poorly tailored solutions for global health systems.