Office of Community Relations
UF Government and Community Relations

Monday, December 14, 2020
Across the University of Florida, our 16 colleges, numerous institutes and health care facilities embrace our shared mission of outreach and service to improve and enrich our community, nation and the world. UF in the Community spotlights the impact of UF in our region.

Although UF has students and employees throughout the state, North Central Florida is home to much of our faculty and staff and to our 50,000+ students. Like all area residents, we want a vibrant, safe, healthy and equitable place in which to live and thrive. Here are some of the ways in which we are enhancing our shared community.​
Director of UF Health Screen, Test & Protect discusses COVID-19 and the UF spring semester
UF Innovate supports Gainesville tech and startup companies through the pandemic. startGNV tells the story of this resilient community in the time of COVID-19:
UF Health researchers: Existing antihistamine drugs show effectiveness against COVID-19 virus in cell testing
Three common antihistamine medications have been found in preliminary tests to inhibit infection of cells by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, University of Florida Health researchers have found.

Their findings, based on laboratory tests of cells and a detailed analysis of nearly a quarter-million California patients’ medical records, have been published in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. The data may support the launch of a randomized, controlled clinical trial to determine whether the specific antihistamines can treat or even prevent COVID-19 in humans.
UF College of Pharmacy experiment to study age-related muscle loss is launched to the International Space Station 
An out-of-this-world mission may help University of Florida researchers understand why adults lose muscle strength as they age. Tiny muscle cells contained on tissue chips are part of an innovative experiment bound for the International Space Station.
UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute promotes K-12 education initiatives focused on air, water, land and life on Earth 
The UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute at the Florida Museum of Natural History is advancing communication and education about Earth systems science in a way that inspires Floridians to be effective stewards of our planet. 

They host public programs, develop thoughtful digital outreach campaigns, provide science communication training to scientists and communications professionals and connect scientists with K-12 teachers and students.
The UF Harn Museum of Art and the Florida Museum of Natural History are open, safe and ready to welcome you. See your video invitation:
COVID-19 Resources:
  • UF Health COVID-19 Site
  • UF Health Screen, Test and Protect Dashboard
  • UF Updates on COVID-19
Community Resources:
  • Florida Department of Health: COVID-19 data and surveillance dashboard
  • Alachua County
  • City of Gainesville
  • Santa Fe College
  • City of Alachua
  • Greater Gainesville Chamber
  • United Way of North Central Florida
Stay Well.
Susan Crowley
Assistant Vice President, Community Relations