North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Food Animal SARS-CoV2 Testing
Lead Researcher: Radiah Minor, Animal Sciences
Budget: $247,920

Because some North Carolina counties experiencing the most aggressive COVID-19 outbreaks are significantly involved in food animal production, this study incorporated SARS-CoV2 testing of food animals into formulating guidelines for mitigating virus transmission.

Affordable IR Fever Detection Systems for K-12 and Higher Education Facilities
Lead Researcher: Raymond Tesiero, Civil, Architecture, and Environmental Engineering
Budget: $298,137

In light of educational institutions reopening to high volumes of student and staff traffic during an ongoing pandemic, this study developed three affordable prototype IR fever detection systems for schools to perform rapid symptom screenings and mitigate virus transmission.

Predictors of and Strategies to Mitigate COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Among the Elderly in Nursing Homes and Residential Care Facilities
Lead Researcher: Stephanie Teixeira-Poit, Sociology
Budget: $71,428

In a study to determine correlations between quality of pre-COVID-19 care measures and COVID-19 cases and deaths in elderly populations, a large compilation of data sources and data analysis was used to develop actionable recommendations to facilities providing residential care to the elderly.

Designing an Anti-Viral Nanoparticle Against SARS-CoV2
Lead Researcher: Liesl Jeffers-Francis, Biology
Budget: $130,400

Because metallic nanoparticles (silver, AgNP; copper, CuNP; and iron, FeNP) have promising properties as an anti-viral coating for surfaces and filters to block COVID-19 binding to its targets and gain entry into host cells, this study evaluated their uses as additive materials to everyday surfaces.

Portal Sensing Platform for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV2 Virus in Air Through Nanoengineered Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering
Lead Researcher: Lifeng Zhang, Nanoengineering
Budget: $200,000

This project developed a portal sensing platform to test SARS-CoV2 in the air in three parts: developing electro-spinning netting for COVID-19 testing, engineering the growth of Ag nanoparticles for testing, and generating portal COVID-19 detection with Raman signals.

Economic Impact of COVID-19 in the Piedmont Triad Region
Lead Researcher: Cephas Naanwaab, Economics
Budget: $48,000

In a project with two objectives, this study assessed the holistic economic impact of COVID on North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad Region and formulate models and expectations of a range of government ordered closure levels (from total closure to complete normal operations).
Final Report: Economic Impact of COVID-19 in the Piedmont Triad Region