Q: Why is this a better mask for frontline healthcare workers?
- It can be re-used multiple times.
- It can be easily mass produced.
- It is cheap. The manufacturing price per mask could be as little as $5 each, with the per-use costs being just a fraction of that.
Q: How is this mask different?
Unlike the existing disposable masks for frontline health workers (such as the N95, below right), this mask can be reused safely because it is made of a highly durable silicon material that can be easily sterilized by any number of means - high heat, alcohol, bleach… the list goes on. It utilizes two circular filters that can be popped in and out and easily replaced. 
Q: Where does my donation go?
Your donation will fund the next phase of research and development of this mask. If the mask proves to be safe and effective, your donations will be used to assist in deploying the mask to healthcare workers and patients.
Q: Who is Dr. James Byrne?
Dr. James Byrne is a 2019 PCF Young Investigator Award recipient and postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Dr. Robert Langer at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. Dr. Byrne received his MD and a PhD in Molecular Pharmaceutics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His clinical and research interests include radiation oncology and the design of better methods of delivering radiation therapy to mitigate side effects.
Dr. Bryne’s Young Investigator Award looks at how we can minimize side effects for prostate cancer radiation. Through the #bettermask project, Dr. Bryne, who has both an oncology and engineering background, quickly and heroically diverted his skills to solve the PPE problem, in light of the current pandemic.
Q: If I donate, do I get a mask?
Not yet - this is a research and development project. As a donor, we will keep you informed of the progress made on this mask. While eventually we hope the mask can be mass-produced for all, we cannot at this time predict when masks might be available to the general public, since there is currently a dangerous shortage among health care workers.
Q: What are all the ways I can donate?
If you wish to donate with ACH or PayPal, please go to http://www.pcf.org/buildmask. If you need to mail a donation, please include a note that it is for “Better Mask” and send to:
Prostate Cancer Foundation
1250 Fourth Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Q: Why does my receipt say Prostate Cancer Foundation? What does this have to do with prostate cancer?
The Prostate Cancer Foundation funds the world’s most promising research to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of prostate cancer and ultimately cure it for good. During this time of crisis, as always, it is our goal to fund the most cutting-edge research to save lives and ultimately return ALL patients and health care workers to the business of care, treatment, and healing.
Q: Why is it so important that we get this done FAST?
There are a few reasons why we at PCF want a better mask to combat deaths from COVID-19 ASAP.
- This global pandemic is especially infectious and will be with us for a long time to come. Flattening the curve means spreading out cases over time; that means it will be months to years before we see a break in demand for PPEs. A reusable mask will help us pull ahead of the game until a vaccine is available.
- There is currently a global shortage of masks that meet N95 standards among first responders, doctors, nurses, immunocompromised patients, and other health care workers. There are over one million cancer patients in active treatment in the US alone. The fact that proper protective masks are designed for single use is compounding the shortage.
- Right now, almost all healthcare providers have been redeployed to use their critical care expertise to fight the coronavirus. As we all work together as a society to “flatten the curve” and care for the infected, PCF doctors and researchers are doing their part as well, some in the lab and many others on the front lines. This reusable mask will keep them safe until they can get back to their other important work - curing cancer patients. Furthermore, after the proper volume of masks is provided to all our heroic frontline health care workers, we hope the better mask will be available to any patient or person coming out of social isolation in high-risk groups or high-risk areas.
Q: Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, your donation is 100% deductible! Also, the recent coronavirus relief package (CARES Act) now allows additional charitable deductions on top of the standard deduction.
Q: Who will actually be producing the masks? Will they be making a profit?
The design, once completed, will be OPEN SOURCE - that means that the blueprint needed to make the mask is available to everyone with no licensing fees. The current goal of this project is to get mask research and development over the finish line.
Q: Where will the mask be produced?
While Dr. Bryne and team are currently working with a manufacturer on prototypes, the final design will be open source. That means injection-molding facilities anywhere in the world can produce the masks.
Q: How will this mask benefit prostate cancer patients and their families?
Right now, some prostate cancer patients may be experiencing delays in their treatment because of overwhelmed medical staff and facilities, or because of concern about personal exposure to the coronavirus. Once these new masks are broadly available to protect medical staff, providers will be able to safely carry on their noble efforts, whether that is caring for COVID-19 patients or prostate cancer patients. Researchers can return to their labs and offices to continue their work on curing prostate cancer. Eventually, we hope this mask will also be widely available so that patients and families can protect themselves when the time comes to return to normal treatment protocols.
Q: As a result of my donation, how many masks will be available and when?
Great question! The money will help with rapid iteration of testing and remodeling. The mask must jump through many hoops in terms of safety and standards before it can go to market. This is usually a LONG process, but thanks to your donation, we’re speeding it up as much as possible. Right now, fingers crossed, we are hoping for 50,000-100,000 masks in field tests by the end of May. And remember, those are reusable. So that’s 50,0000-100,000 medical workers protected, day after day.
Q: What happens if the mask doesn’t work?
This is a great question. As scientists, we often fund things that are high risk, high reward. However, we feel this mask is not at all high risk - we’ve joined on at a time we feel it’s almost ready to go, and we’re asking you to push it over the finish line and accelerate delivery to the healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line for us all. In biomedical terms, we say the technology has been “de-risked.” However, in the unlikely event we can’t scale it the way we want, any leftover funds will be reallocated into the PCF general cancer research fund.
Want to learn more about PCF’s history of accelerating science and innovation? Visit impact.pcf.org