Personal air sampler to measure bioaerosols and occupational exposures
Official title: Advanced Personal Sampler to Assess Occupational Exposures to Bioaerosols
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11388774 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, portable device will collect airborne biological particles from workers so researchers can measure exposures and understand health risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,767 |
| NIH project number | 5R01OH012583-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are workers or individuals in environments with potential bioaerosol exposure who could benefit from improved exposure monitoring and protective strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with no occupational exposure to bioaerosols or those not participating in exposure monitoring would not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops and tests a battery-powered personal bioaerosol sampler that captures microbes in quiet, real-world settings. The goal is to reliably collect samples at a high rate so downstream analyses like culture, sequencing, and rapid tests can identify potential hazards. Researchers will validate the device by comparing it with existing samplers and evaluating performance with different microorganisms, including coronavirus OC43. The work aims to provide a practical tool for measuring individual exposure in occupational and general environments. If successful, the sampler could help identify safer work practices and reduce health risks from bioaerosols.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, workers' exposure to harmful bioaerosols could be measured more accurately, informing safer workplace practices and policies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous prototype work showed feasibility; this project advances to a fully integrated, validated standalone device.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mainelis, Gediminas — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Mainelis, Gediminas
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.