Mayo Clinic has been selected to lead a research project focused on improving indoor air quality and safety in healthcare settings by the Advanced Research Project Agency for Health. The project, part of the ARPA-H BREATHE program, aims to develop new ways to monitor and improve air in real time, helping protect public health in buildings nationwide.
Mayo Clinic will lead the Hospital Air QUality: Breathing Life into Patient Care project, focusing on improving indoor air quality in hospitals to enhance health. Through the project, Mayo Clinic will introduce biosensors, artificial intelligence and smart air filtration systems in emergency departments across Mayo Clinic’s campuses in Florida, Arizona and Minnesota. The technologies will work together to enhance air quality by proactively monitoring the environment, assessing potential risks and automatically improving air safety when needed — creating healthier spaces for patients and care teams alike.
The project will unfold in three phases over five years, beginning with the development of a biosensor to monitor emergency room air for aerosols such as viruses, bacteria, mold and allergens. Once validated, the system will undergo real-world testing and could lay the foundation for future indoor air quality standards and public health policies.
The research includes a multidisciplinary team of collaborators from Siemens Corporation, Metalmark Innovations, Princeton University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and The University of Chicago. The coalition brings together expertise from the healthcare, biotechnology and academic sectors. Learn more here.
