The Dennehy Laboratory receives funding from NSF for proposal titled “Metapopulation Modeling to Develop Strategies to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission in Public Spaces”

A recently developed computational model (the Ephemeral Island Metapopulation Model (EIMM) that applies metapopulation theory to explain how pathogens persist in hospital environments will be revised to address the spatial spread of SARS-CoV-2 within built environments. An enveloped bacteriophage phi6 will be used to validate model predictions as well as test control strategies. Recommendations resembling established building and fire codes, which regulate how space is allotted per occupant based upon design and usage requirements, will be generated. These recommendations are published at “COVID Code”.