[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 43 (Monday, March 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                     IN HONOR OF DR. ANDREW BROOKS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 8, 2021

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with Congressman 
Soto, to honor the life of Dr. Andrew Ira Brooks, a hero of the 
coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Brooks, a longtime Research Professor at 
Rutgers University in New Jersey, passed away on January 23, 2021 after 
a vibrant life filled with numerous professional and personal 
accomplishments.
  Dr. Brooks led the effort to develop the Rutgers COVID-19 diagnostic 
assay in early 2020. This COVID-19 rapid test received FDA Emergency 
Use Authorization in March 2020 as the first approved saliva diagnostic 
and was the first test approved for home use. It is particularly 
important because this low-contact collection method helps protect our 
frontline medical workers. To date, there have been over four million 
clinical tests, undoubtedly saving the lives of many around our country 
and providing a practical tool for pandemic control.
  Born and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Brooks went on to receive his 
Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and 
became their Director of Medical Center Core Facilities. Four years 
later, he returned to his home state to direct the joint Rutgers/UMDNJ 
EOHSI Bionomics Research and Technology Center with an appointment as 
Research Professor in the Rutgers University Department of Genetics.
  In 2009, Dr. Brooks became Chief Operating Officer and Director of 
Technology Development of RUCDR, Infinite Biologics, a Rutgers public/
private partnership. He also served 17 years as an advisor to the Food 
and Drug Administration, as Director of the Harlan GeneScreen 
Laboratory and as Co-Founding Director of the BioProcessing Solutions 
Alliance. In June 2020, Dr. Brooks founded Infinity BiologiX and became 
its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Brooks 
also made significant academic contributions to the improvement of 
human health and the field of biomedicine which can be seen in the 70 
publications he coauthored, several with over 1000 citations in the 
literature.
  Dr. Brooks loved golf, playing the sport throughout his life. He was 
an extraordinarily accomplished amateur, winning international 
tournaments with his skill, concentration, and friendly competitive 
spirit. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Phyllis Brooks, his sister, 
Janet Green, his children Lauren, Hannah and Danielle, and his loving 
wife, Jil Brooks, as well as many dear friends and colleagues.
  Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in 
honoring Dr. Andrew Brooks for his dedication to the medical field and 
the countless lives he saved by leading the effort to develop the 
Rutgers COVID-19 saliva test.

                          ____________________