Cleaner indoor air for Ugandan homes
Optimizing air purification strategies to reduce household PM2.5 exposure in Uganda
Trying portable HEPA air cleaners and reliable power options to lower fine particle (PM2.5) exposure for families and children living in Ugandan households.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135418 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join about 20 households in an established Ugandan cohort where researchers place portable HEPA air cleaners in homes and monitor indoor air quality. The team will run controlled experiments in simulation spaces and real households to find the best placement and filtration settings to cut particulate levels. They'll design and test power solutions (like batteries) so the cleaners can run when electricity is unreliable. Families, especially those with a child who has had pneumonia, will be asked about ease of use and how often the devices are kept on while researchers measure PM2.5 and adherence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Ugandan households (urban or rural) with children, particularly families with a history of childhood pneumonia, willing to host and use a portable air cleaner while being monitored.
Not a fit: People living outside the selected Ugandan communities or households without significant indoor particulate sources or interest in hosting/using a cleaner may not receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lower indoor fine particle exposure in homes and help reduce respiratory risks for children and adults.
How similar studies have performed: HEPA-based portable air cleaners have lowered indoor PM2.5 in prior studies, but evidence is limited for low-resource settings with unreliable electricity and for families of children with pneumonia.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moschovis, Peter P — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Moschovis, Peter P
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.