Investigating how the size of airborne particles affects the spread of infectious diseases.
Official title: Probing the particle size-viability relationship in bioaerosols through size-controlled measurements
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11121034 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the size of tiny airborne particles that can carry germs affects the risk of infections in young children, so we can better understand how diseases spread and find ways to keep kids safe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | June 18, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $195,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI181258-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121034 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of 2, particularly those who may be at higher risk for respiratory infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 2 years or those without respiratory health concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the relationship between the size of bioaerosols—tiny airborne particles that can carry viruses and bacteria—and their ability to cause infections, particularly in young children. By developing new methods to generate bioaerosols of uniform size, the study aims to measure how these particles behave in different environmental conditions and how they are transmitted through respiratory activities like coughing and sneezing. The findings could help clarify how infectious diseases spread and inform public health strategies to protect vulnerable populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing the spread of respiratory infections in young children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding bioaerosol transmission can significantly impact public health, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ouyang, Hui — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Ouyang, Hui
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.