Air monitoring to detect COVID-19 and flu in K-12 schools
Anticipating and rapidly responding to respiratory virus outbreaks with continuous air sampling in K-12 schools
This project checks classroom air twice weekly for COVID-19 and influenza to help keep K–12 students and staff healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248742 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will place an air sampler inside each of 16 K–12 schools and collect continuous air samples twice weekly across the school year. Laboratory tests will look for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus in those air samples. The team will compare detection rates from air sampling to the schools' in-school rapid testing of symptomatic students and staff to see if air monitoring picks up viruses as well as individual testing. The approach aims to be a simple, low-cost early warning system to reduce illness-related absenteeism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Students and school staff at the participating K–12 schools in the partnering Wisconsin school district, especially those with respiratory symptoms or in buildings with detected virus in the air.
Not a fit: People who do not attend or work in the participating schools, or whose health issues are unrelated to respiratory viruses, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give schools an early, inexpensive warning system to reduce outbreaks and student and staff absenteeism.
How similar studies have performed: Environmental surveillance like wastewater monitoring has shown promise for tracking community spread, and air-based surveillance is promising but still relatively new and being tested in school settings.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'connor, David H. — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: O'connor, David H.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.