A first-of-its-kind screening device for identifying COVID-19 biomarkers has secured emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with the help of Miami’s Fuerst Ittleman founding partner Andrew S. Ittleman.

It took a year of “elbow grease, communication and patience” to get to this point, according to Ittleman, who said he’s learned the importance of building rapport and respect with the FDA, as it navigated a public health emergency.