In late March, 2020 as COVID-19 cases were beginning to climb rapidly in the United States, the Institute of Neuro Innovation was determining the best ways in which we could support our community. We were particularly struck by the lack of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for many healthcare workers due to the increased demand worldwide. Domestically, N95 masks (the CDC recommended PPE respirators) were becoming increasingly expensive and impossible to acquire. Hospitals that did have them were rationing their supplies because it was unknown when more would become available. Altogether, this left many healthcare workers at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, which also increased that risk for their families and other patients. We knew protecting those on the front lines in our fight against COVID-19 was of utmost importance. Therefore, one way we at INI decided to support our community was by providing PPE to healthcare workers and others on the front lines during this pandemic.

Our amazing board members got us started by donating the excess PPE from their research labs to local hospitals, but we knew we could do more. We got in contact with medical equipment distributors to discuss various options and researched what types of PPE we could provide. We decided to acquire KN95 masks, the Chinese alternative to N95 masks, because they were available and provide wearers with equivalent protection to N95 masks (and became a CDC approved N95 mask alternative).

With the help of everyone who donated to our PPE fundraiser, we were able to purchase over 1,000 KN95 masks! We want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported us—thank you! Together we are able to contribute to the safety of those on the front lines of this pandemic.

We are now distributing these masks free of charge on a daily basis to healthcare workers at local Los Angeles area hospitals whom have expressed need.