Since March 2020, Dr. Luke Thomas Daum, Ph.D. ‘07 and his company have aided the collection and safe transportation of COVID-19 biological samples from around the world. A product he developed and produces has put Daum on the front lines of the fight against the virus by making it possible for testing to take place outside of containment facilities.

As of March 3, 2020, 103,980 liters the Primestore Molecular Transport Medium (MTM) have been produced at the biotech company Daum co-founded. “To put this production into perspective, the amount of liquid produced by Longhorn was enough to fill two large backyard swimming pools,” said Daum.

Daum is the Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of his own co-founded start-up company, Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics. During his time at Longhorn, Daum solely invented PrimeStore® Molecular Transport Medium (MTM), a collection, storage, and transfer device that became the first of its kind to be cleared by the FDA. Daum and his company have produced and distributed across the globe over 45 million PrimeStore MTM vials to facilitate COVID-19 testing.

Before attending UTSA, Daum worked for the military as a civilian scientist. He was awarded a fellowship by the Department of Defense (DoD) to pursue his doctorate and take his research studies to the next level while continuing his full-time job in a laboratory.

“To get to the top of any field, you have to master all aspects of that field. Because of the rigors of receiving a Ph.D. I felt that I needed this degree to advance my research to get to the place that I am at now. I am now in an amazing position where I can help the world through a global pandemic. I could not have gotten here without the support of my UTSA mentor, Dr. Jim Chambers and the education I received at the university. It has truly taken me to the moon.”

Daum was the first UTSA student to receive a doctorate from the Cellular and Molecular Biology program at the university. To date, he has published more than 30 research articles and holds 12 U.S. and international patents.

Keeping up with demand for PrimeStore MTM even became a family affair for Daum. “It’s been quite an amazing experience to have my family be involved in this journey to bring PrimStore to the world. From answering phones to helping make the actual product to be transferred across the world ... I couldn’t have done it without them and without their support,” he said.

-Jordan Allen, UTSA Development and Alumni Relations