In partnership with The Just Project, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will make a $15 million investment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as part of its COVID-19 response. Among the more than 100 HBCUs in The Just Project, 29 schools are collaborating to increase access to COVID-19 diagnostic testing for campuses and their communities. The project is establishing testing hubs at colleges and universities, including equipment, additional test kits, and analytical labs to rapidly deploy and process tests.
The Foundation’s investment will span over three years and will support up to 10 of the participating HBCUs with medical, veterinary, pharmacy, and agriculture schools — which will serve as diagnostic “testing hubs.” Expanding test processing capacity at these “hub” institutions enables the project to extend its reach to additional institutions.
The first wave of the foundation’s investment includes: Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Meharry Medical College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Xavier University of Louisiana. Leaders from these institutions will be present at the announcement Tuesday.
