Andrew Brooks Explained

Andrew Brooks
Birth Date:1969 2, mf=yes
Birth Place:Bronxville, New York, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Children:3
Spouse:Jill Brooks
Fields:Molecular neuroscience
Workplaces:
Education:
  • University of Rochester School of Medicine (PhD)
Known For:
  • First FDA approved COVID-19 saliva-based/home-use test

Andrew Ira Brooks (February 10, 1969January 23, 2021) was an American immunologist, academic, and businessman. He was an associate research professor at Rutgers University and the developer of the first FDA-approved rapid saliva test for COVID-19 diagnosis.[1] [2] [3]

Early life

Brooks was born in Bronxville, New York, on February 10, 1969, to Phyllis (née Heitner) and Perry H. Brooks. His mother was a school teacher while his father was a diamond setter. He was raised in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey and later attended Cornell University, majoring in animal sciences with the intention of becoming a veterinarian. He switched his academic focus after a summer internship at Memorial Sloan Kettering and in 2000 received a PhD from University of Rochester[4] in neuroscience.[1]

Career and research

After completing his PhD, Brooks remained at the University of Rochester, later becoming director of Medical Center Core Facilities.[5] Four years later, he returned to New Jersey to work at Rutgers,[4] joining the faculties of Environmental Medicine and Genetics, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, and Toxicology.[6]

In 2009, Brooks began working at the Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository (RUCDR), a university-company for data management and research analysis.[7] He eventually became CEO of the company and it became a private entity, now called Sampled, in 2018.[8] He was also the chief science officer for Spectrum Solutions.[9] He was a member of the New Jersey Economic Advisory Council,[10] and the director of the Bionomics Research and Technology Center (BRTC) at the Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.[11]

For 17 years he was director of the Harlan (now Envigo) GeneScreen Laboratory, and as an advisor to the Food and Drug Administration.[12]

Brooks was also both COO and director of technology of RUCDR Infinite Biologics. At RUCDR, he developed a saliva-spit test for COVID-19 as an alternative to naso- or oropharyngeal swab tests which both increased speed of results and minimized the need for medical professionals to be involved in the testing process.[13] He used the capabilities built up to perform genetic tests through saliva and adapted the same techniques to extract the necessary RNA from the virus. The test received emergency use authorization from the FDA in April 2020,[14] [15] making it the first at-home test to be approved by federal authorities.[16] [17] In addition to designing the saliva test he commercialized the test and scaled production operations to meet the rollout demands. More than 4 million people have used the test.

He co-authored over 70 publications, with over 1000 citations in literature.[12] In addition to his work on COVID-19, his research included investigations of the molecular mechanisms that underlie memories and learning, which involved studies on gene-environment interaction, including those in neurodegenerative diseases; as well as high throughput sample analysis[18] and biobanking.[1]

Personal life

Brooks was married to Jil Brooks. Brooks had three daughters from two previous marriages.[1] [19] He was a golf enthusiast, playing often with his father and participating successfully in international tournaments as an amateur.[1]

Brooks died of a heart attack on January 23, 2021.[20] New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy lauded him as an "unsung hero".[21]

Published works

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mourning the Death of Rutgers' Andrew Brooks, a Leader in the Fight Against COVID-19. Rutgers.edu. Neal. Buccino. January 26, 2021. February 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126170619/https://www.rutgers.edu/news/mourning-death-rutgers-andrew-brooks-leader-fight-against-covid-19. January 26, 2021. live.
  2. Web site: Alec . Snyder. Andrew Brooks, who led development of the first FDA-approved Covid-19 saliva test, dies at 51. January 31, 2021 . February 1, 2021. CNN . https://web.archive.org/web/20210201055446/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/31/us/andrew-brooks-obituary-covid-saliva-test/index.html. February 1, 2021. live.
  3. Web site: Andrew Brooks, Designer of COVID-19 Saliva Test, Dies at 51. The Scientist Magazine.
  4. News: Risen. Clay. January 31, 2021. Andrew Brooks, Who Developed a Coronavirus Spit Test, Dies at 51. en-US. The New York Times. February 1, 2021. 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: January 27, 2021. Rutgers professor who led development of COVID-19 saliva test dies at 51. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127201946/https://www.phillyvoice.com/rutgers-professor-covid-19-saliva-test-dies-andrew-brooks/ . January 27, 2021 . February 1, 2021. www.phillyvoice.com.
  6. Web site: In Memoriam: Andrew I. Brooks (1969–2021). Rutgers.edu. February 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201223030/https://eohsi.rutgers.edu/weschleraaasfellow-2/. February 1, 2021. live.
  7. Web site: April 10, 2019. Scientist Spotlight: Andrew Brooks, PhD. February 1, 2021. Behind the Bench. en-US.
  8. Web site: CNN. Alec Snyder. Andrew Brooks, who led development of the first FDA-approved Covid-19 saliva test, dies at 51. February 1, 2021. Albany Herald. en.
  9. Web site: January 29, 2021. Spectrum Solutions Mourns the Death of Dr. Andrew Brooks. February 1, 2021. www.businesswire.com. en.
  10. Web site: Speaker Coughlin on Passing of Rutgers Research Pioneer Andrew Brooks. February 1, 2021. New Jersey Assembly Democrats. January 26, 2021 . en-US.
  11. Web site: Andrew Brooks Bioprocessing Solutions Alliance. February 1, 2021. Precision Medicine World Conference 2017 Duke. en-US.
  12. Web site: Andrew Brooks Obituary – Manalapan, NJ. February 1, 2021. Dignity Memorial. en.
  13. Web site: Garcia. Victor. April 14, 2020. Rutgers professor describes his saliva test for coronavirus: 'You simply have to spit into a tube'. February 1, 2021. Fox News. en-US.
  14. Web site: Coleman. Justine. January 31, 2021. Rutgers researcher who developed first COVID-19 saliva test dies. February 1, 2021. TheHill. en.
  15. Web site: Staff. MedTech Intelligence. April 14, 2020. Rutgers University Granted EUA for Saliva Test for Coronavirus. February 1, 2021. MedTech Intelligence. en-US.
  16. Web site: Murphy. Justin. Andrew Brooks, former URMC doctor who created first saliva COVID test, dies. February 1, 2021. Democrat and Chronicle. en-US.
  17. Web site: January 28, 2021. Dr. Andrew Brooks, Rutgers scientist who developed first COVID spit test, passes away, school announces. February 1, 2021. KMGH. en.
  18. Web site: Andrew Brooks – Research . rutgers.edu . February 1, 2021.
  19. Web site: January 27, 2021. Rutgers Professor – Andrew Brooks. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127201946/https://www.phillyvoice.com/rutgers-professor-covid-19-saliva-test-dies-andrew-brooks/ . January 27, 2021 . February 1, 2021. www.phillyvoice.com.
  20. Web site: Andrew Brooks, who led development of the first FDA-approved Covid-19 saliva test, dies at 51. February 1, 2021. KNBR. en-US. February 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210201215017/https://www.knbr.com/news/andrew-brooks-who-led-development-of-the-first-fda-approved-covid-19-saliva-test-dies-at-51/. dead.
  21. Web site: Rutgers Scientist Who Developed COVID Spit Test Dies Unexpectedly at 51: He 'Undoubtedly Saved Lives'. Health.com. Gabrielle. Chung. January 27, 2021. February 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127203508/https://www.health.com/syndication/rutgers-scientist-who-developed-covid-spit-test-dies. January 27, 2021. live.

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