Tulane honors NPRC biosafety director for COVID-19 responsiveness

Angela Birnbaum, Director of Containment Operations for the Tulane National Primate Research Center, was honored by Tulane University this week for her exemplary work in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Birnbaum is the first "Heroes and Helpers" honoree.

Birnbaum has worked tirelessly to help ensure the safety of medical professionals treating COVID-19 patients. She has developed a process to decontaminate critically needed N95 and other protective masks so that they can be reused by frontline doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. She has also used her expertise to secure the support of a nonprofit company to provide disinfected personal protective equipment for frontline heroes working in both the New Orleans hospital system and throughout Louisiana.

Before the current crisis, Birnbaum had established an exemplary biosafety program at the Tulane National Primate Research Center that is a national model and that positioned the center to quickly step up to become one of the nation’s leaders in seeking to develop a vaccine, tests and treatments for COVID-19. With knowledge, dedication and commitment, Birnbaum is an indispensable asset, working far above and beyond the scope of normal job duties to protect and save lives during this pandemic.

Read more: https://tulane.edu/covid-19/heroes-and-helpers