Development of a High-Plex Biosensor Platform for Airborne Pathogen Detection and Building-Integrated Exposure Control

NICHOLAS HEREDIA, SafeTraces Inc.

     Abstract Number: 373
     Working Group: Bioaerosols

Abstract
Airborne transmission of infectious pathogens remains a leading driver of health risk in indoor environments. We are developing a next-generation biosensor system capable of high-plex detection of airborne respiratory pathogens, with the goal of enabling real-time exposure risk mitigation. A working version of the biosensor currently supports 4-plex detection of pathogens and is undergoing development toward field integration and a pathway to detect up to 100 airborne targets in a single reaction.

The system leverages quantitative PCR and cartridge-based assay design to enable specific, multiplexed detection from aerosol samples. As the biosensor evolves, it will be integrated with a modeling and analytics framework that contextualizes sensor outputs with metadata such as building ventilation parameters, occupant density, and time-resolved environmental data. This risk model will be used to inform and automate engineering controls—such as HVAC optimization, filtration upgrades, and other building-level interventions—via direct integration with building management systems.

Initial deployments are being planned at U.S. military medical centers, providing a structured testbed for validating the system under real-world conditions. By combining molecular biosensing with exposure modeling and intervention automation, the platform aims to transform building air management from a passive to a proactive paradigm. It is designed to support both acute event response (e.g., outbreak containment) and continuous air safety assurance in high-risk environments.

This effort represents a novel convergence of bioaerosol detection, exposure analytics, and smart building control technologies, and contributes to a new frontier in precision environmental health protection.