Our Contribution
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Why mask research?
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were few recent peer-reviewed scientific studies about cloth mask fit, materials filtration or use. Early supply shortages of certified personal protective equipment (PPE) made the need for evidence-informed cloth mask research critical. While supplies have improved within North American healthcare, for the North American public access continues to be challenging. Access to certified PPE is even more limited throughout the world, especially for health care workers and the general public in low- and middle-income countries. We continue to work on researching masks of all types.
Our role in mask research
Maskevidence.org’s role in research is:
Testing batik fabric using a portacount at McMaster University
Identifying published, peer-reviewed research that increases understanding of cloth mask materials, fit or use.
Creating credible plain language summaries that synthesize peer-reviewed research.
Synthesizing evidence across studies.
Supporting original research on cloth masks and PPE.
Our partners in mask research
The Center of Excellence in Protective Equipment and Materials at McMaster University, funded through an internal grant and the Ontario Together Fund, was formed during the early pandemic to support the manufacture and testing of protective equipment. The enduring vision is to create the next generation of protective equipment.
TSI 8130A Filtration Testing Instrument at McMaster University
The Windsor-Essex Sewing Force is a volunteer network dedicated to the provision of evidence-informed protective equipment. Engineers at University of Windsor collaborated on the consensus design of 2-layer cotton masks, which were later tested at the De Lannoy laboratory at McMaster University.
The scanning electron microscopy facility at University of Windsor provided data on the structure of commonly-available cotton fabrics.
The Cloth Mask Knowledge Exchange (CMKE) is a project created within the newly-formed Centre of Excellence in Protective Equipment and Materials (CEPEM) by a number of stakeholders interested in cloth masks to create a portal (maskevidence.org) where interested parties can obtain evidence-based information in order to make informed decisions regarding masks, including reusable masks. CMKE does not endorse any product but seeks to leverage the expertise of the consortium to collect and make known peer-reviewed information, and to connect inquiries from companies and community to appropriate resources. The project also strives to provide necessary information and design expertise that will allow for the setting of standards for the industry to manufacture performance-oriented masks and for users to access proper information to facilitate their decision on a suitable mask.