Our Projects
Watch our video about MATH+ COVID19 Early Intervention Treatment Protocol:
We are currently engaged in urgent efforts to advance and support these projects.
I. The Care and Recovery of the Acute Covid-19 Patient
PPI has provided strong leadership support in the formation of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Working Group (FCCC Working Group). This group of eight critical care and allied physicians have disseminated an early intervention protocol for hospitalized and deteriorating coronavirus patients. The protocol includes intravenous corticosteroids, high dose intravenous ascorbic acid (vitamin C), anti-coagulants, and thiamine to obviate the need for ventilator intervention. On the FCCC Working Group’s web page, covid19criticalcare.com, visitors can meet the physicians, and view/download the press release and the protocol.
The protocol is based upon the expert research of Paul Marik, M.D., Chief of the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine at East Virginia Medical School. Dr. Marik is the leading U.S. academic proponent for the advocacy of corticosteroids and intravenous ascorbic acid in sepsis. This protocol has already saved many lives in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The protocols were derived from Dr. Marik’s extensive work in sepsis, his understanding of its successful use in parts of China for COVID-19, and his preliminary success with it in his first COVID-19 cases in Virginia.
We intend to continue our research and support for the FCCC Working Group project, chair the meetings, and support the publication of pooled research data and analysis, health policy recommendations, and to work with the dedicated volunteers who have contributed to this project. These volunteers include Betsy Ashton, Joyce Kamen, Louise Callagy, and Sarah Frei.
Immediate financial support is required to meaningfully advance these goals. A PayPal account has been established to accept donations. We extend our profound thanks to you for your consideration of this crucial request.
II. Buprenorphine Availability in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic
With the possible disruption of pharmaceutical supply chains, patients struggling with addiction and chronic pain have expressed valid concerns about the future availability of buprenorphine—used to treat opioid use disorder, acute pain, and chronic pain.
PPI has been in contact with several pharmacies to set aside additional supplies for these patients. The probabilities of buprenorphine shortage— and subsequent harm to patients— may be greater than those associated with other pharmaceuticals.
Neither withdrawal nor the alternative use of other opiates, with higher abuse potential, are safe, humane, or acceptable from a public health standpoint, particularly during a pandemic, with widespread suffering already prevalent.
PPI is working with the leadership of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) on this issue, of which Dr. Kornfeld— a Distinguished Fellow of the society— has been an active member for over thirty years.
Our activities on this project will be updated here.
III. Enhancement of Immune Defenses Against COVID-19 Illness in Non-Hospitalized Patients
There is limited reliable information on the prevention of COVID-19 infection through lifestyle, diet, mindfulness, exercise, and nutritional supplementation. A consensus of thoughtful medical leaders is that our immune systems, individually and collectively, need a rapid upgrade.
One approach— that of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona School of Medicine— appears to be the first well-organized effort in this regard. PPI projects that there will be others soon. We would leverage our collective experience to enhance the emerging knowledge in these areas for the prevention and the treatment of non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
We will also update our activities in this arena in the next few weeks.