Frontrunner project: Predicting, measuring and quantifying airborne virus transmission
The next pandemic will likely emerge from one of the large and well-known families of respiratory viruses. Measuring the extent to which these viruses can spread via small droplets, large droplets, or direct contact is crucial. However, measuring and quantifying airborne viruses is notoriously difficult. Numerous external factors are of influence, including temperature and humidity levels. If we gain a greater understanding of the route of transmission of respiratory viruses, we can work on strategies to reduce that spread.
Objective
In this Frontrunner project, we will develop methods for predicting, measuring and quantifying the spread of airborne viruses. These methods could ultimately result in new and improved mitigation strategies.
Approach
In four related subprojects, we improve methods for measuring air quality and disinfecting the air. These methods will be adapted for indoor environments and tested in hospitals and nursing homes. We explore four significant families of respiratory viruses and link the data to ventilation and air conditioning effectiveness.
Science Speaks
Pandemics in the past have often been caused by viruses that spread through air. Knowing how viruses travel through the air – for example via small droplets, large droplets, or direct contact – is crucial to limit their spread. However, measuring how these so-called ‘airborne viruses’ travel is notoriously difficult. In this episode of Science Speaks, we talk to the researchers of PDPC Frontrunner 2 about their strategy for predicting, measuring and quantifying the spread of airborne viruses.
Publications
- Tosheva, I. I., Filaire, F., Rijnink, W. F., de Meulder, D., van Kekem, B., Bestebroer, T. M., … & Herfst, S. (2025). Influenza A (H5N1) shedding in air corresponds to transmissibility in mammals. Nature Microbiology, 10(1), 14-19.
- Ding, E., Giri, A., Gaillard, A., Bonn, D., & Bluyssen, P. M. (2024). Using mobile air cleaners in school classrooms for aerosol removal: Which, where and how. Indoor and Built Environment, 33(10), 1964-1987.
- Dataset: Ding, E., Giri, A., Gaillard, A., Bonn, D., & Bluyssen, P. M. (2024). Using mobile air cleaners in school classrooms for aerosol removal: Which, where and how. Indoor and Built Environment, 33(10), 1964-1987.
- Tosheva, I. I., Saygan, K. S., Mijnhardt, S. M., Russell, C. J., Fraaij, P. L., & Herfst, S. (2023). Hemagglutinin stability as a key determinant of influenza A virus transmission via air. Current Opinion in Virology, 61, 101335.
