A research team led by Virginia Tech, with participation from the University of California, Davis, has secured a federal contract valued at up to $40 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The goal is to develop a smart-building system that automatically monitors and improves indoor air quality in public spaces.
The initiative, named Bioaerosol Risk Assessment interVention Engineering (BRAVE), seeks to reduce respiratory illnesses such as colds, flu, and asthma by 25 percent. The system is designed to function similarly to fire suppression systems but targets airborne contaminants. It employs biosensors capable of detecting 25 different viruses, bacteria, allergens, and fungi in real time. These include pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza as well as allergens such as black mold.
Once detected, computational modeling software analyzes data from the biosensors and other sources to assess risk levels for building occupants. If high risk is identified, the system can increase ventilation with outdoor air, enhance filtration, or activate germicidal UV lights within ducts. Alerts may also be issued recommending behavioral changes such as reducing occupancy or temporarily leaving the building.
Initial testing will take place in daycare centers due to their high pathogen load and impact on families and communities. Findings are expected to apply broadly across settings like schools, hospitals, supermarkets, and airports.
Linsey Marr of Virginia Tech leads the project. She stated: “The knowledge that comes out of this project will mean that when you go into a classroom, office, restaurant, or other building that has adopted the solutions from this research, the air is going to be cleaner and safer than it was before. That will mean that you have fewer days of illness, fewer missed workdays, and a better quality of life.”
Richard Corsi of UC Davis added: “This project will lead to significant public health and economic benefits. I am thrilled that researchers in the UC Davis College of Engineering will play a key role in this novel and important effort.”
Chris Cappa at UC Davis emphasized the broader significance: “The ability to monitor pathogens and allergens in the air in real time will allow us to transform the way our buildings operate to make them actively work to keep us healthy. This has the potential to be one of the biggest advances in how we think about the air inside buildings since the advent of air conditioning.”
UC Davis is responsible for leading implementation efforts—including integrating new biosensors with building systems—and assessing how these interventions reduce occupant exposure.
The BRAVE project includes collaborators from Washington University in St. Louis; University of Virginia; University of Michigan; Yale University; Pennsylvania State University; Emory University; Johnson Controls; Signature Science LLC; and Varro Life Sciences Inc., among others.
According to ARPA-H’s BREATHE program objectives (https://arpa-h.gov/news/breathe-research-teams-kick-off-efforts-enhance-indoor-air-quality-improve-health/), smart building systems that adaptively respond to indoor air quality changes could improve public health outcomes nationwide.
The initial funding tranche amounts to $20 million with potential increases up to $40 million over five years. Researchers intend for their system—including biosensors and software—to become widely available technology for commercial installation.
