$40M Federal Grant Funds Mayo Clinic Air Quality Research

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Mayo Clinic has been chosen to lead a $40 million air-quality research project.

A news release issued by Mayo Clinic says the Hospital Air Quality: Breathing Life into Patient Care project will focus on “improving indoor air quality in hospitals to enhance health.” It aims to “develop new ways to monitor and improve air in real time, helping protect public health and buildings nationwide.”

Project Aims to Improve Indoor Air in Hospitals Nationwide

The project will involve the use of cutting-edge biosensors, artificial intelligence, and smart air filtration systems. The news release says the technology will be deployed in emergency departments at Mayo Clinic campuses in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona.

“This award reinforces Mayo Clinic's commitment to harnessing the power of technology and data to prevent illness before it starts,” said Vijay Shah, M.D., Kinney Executive Dean of Research at Mayo Clinic. “Our research will help create resilient clinical systems capable of sensing, interpreting, and responding to data in real time, making the hospital of the future even more sophisticated for our patients.”

According to the news release, the project involves three phases. The first will be the development of a new biosensor capable of detecting viruses, bacteria, mold, and other allergens. The plan calls for “real-world testing” of the monitoring systems that “could lay the foundation for future indoor air quality standards and public health policies.”

Funding Provided by Federal Health Innovation Agency

Funding for the project is coming from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The organization’s website says its goal is to pursue “revolutionary approaches to medicine and rapid commercialization potential.” The agency was launched in 2022 with $1 billion in federal funding.