The Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin, the Lublin Commune, Municipal Water and Sewerage Company in Lublin and the Nexbio company have signed an agreement on research and development cooperation in ​​detecting threats to humans and the environment including biological and chemical analysis and monitoring of Lublin wastewater for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The partners initiated their synergic cooperation to realize the possibility of monitoring municipal wastewater for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The agreement also strengthens dimension of cooperation. It will concern implementation and research works as well as didactic and educational activities – said Prof. Radosław Dobrowolski, the UMCS rector.

Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska, Deputy Director of the Institute of Biological Sciences, the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, reminded that the monitoring of wastewater is unavoidable nationwide.

-Such studies are already carried out in some European countries, such as Scandinavia or Belgium, where viral outbreaks were discovered quite early. Thanks to this cooperation, we will be able to identify threats related to the SARS CoV-2 virus in the city with an indication of specific districts and streets – added Prof. Szuster-Ciesielska.