This is the age of weapons of mass destruction and money is flowing to institutions that are working to reduce their threat. Bio-aerosol experts at the University of Cincinnati just received a $1.3 million basic science grant to investigate how to kill the biological agents most likely to be used in WMDs. Led by Sergey Grinshpun, director of UC’s Center for Health-Related Aerosol Studies, the team’s goal is to create a single, self-contained compound that can be released into the air after an explosion to target and destroy dangerous biological agents. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which recently began awarding basic science grants for research aimed at reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction in the battlefield and for civilians.
The UC-led team is one of a few groups to receive funding for basic research this year. It's challenging work, says Grinshpun. “Some biological agents are resistant to environmental stress, including high temperature. They survive. Once in the air, these bacteria and viruses can travel
through the air like any other aerosolized particles and wreak havoc.”
Writer: David Holthaus
Source: Amanda Harper, UC
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