Newly funded: Killing airborne coronavirus

Montserrat Torremorell, DVM, PhD, is collaborating with researchers both within the CVM and at the College of Science and Engineering to test whether air purifying systems can inactivate airborne coronaviruses. The team is using different coronaviruses as surrogates of SARS-CoV-2. If the scientists can effectively inactivate these airborne virions, they intend to directly work with M Health Fairview to implement portable engineering controls in air purification systems within M Health Fairview facilities. Members from this research team have previously used this approach to effectively inactivate airborne porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and swine influenza virus — viruses with similar characteristics to SARS-CoV-2 — in swine barns. This project is funded by private companies.