Cleaner air at home for families: making affordable air purifiers work for you
Official title: Democratizing Access to Cleaner Residential Air (DACRA)
Funded at University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt · NIH-11397681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests low-cost Corsi-Rosenthal boxes to reduce indoor air pollution for people, including families in underserved communities, with the goal of lowering health risks from dirty air.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $237,160 |
| NIH project number | 5R34HL173375-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals or households living in areas with high air pollution, especially those with interest in using affordable air purification solutions and willing to participate in home-based assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Households already using highly effective air purification systems or outside high-pollution areas may see limited additional benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a real-world study in homes to see if low-cost air purification can cut indoor PM2.5 levels and improve health indicators. The team will measure indoor and outdoor air quality, interview participants, and track blood pressure to understand potential health benefits. Community members in targeted areas will be involved in focus groups and home visits, with strong emphasis on accessible, practical solutions. The study design includes randomized elements and rigorous analysis to determine if these affordable devices can make a meaningful difference for families facing pollution exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could experience cleaner indoor air and potentially better health outcomes related to air pollution.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown benefits of high-cost purifiers; this study explores a low-cost option with promising but less-established efficacy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
Farmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brugge, Doug — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Brugge, Doug
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.