# Project 4: Biophysics of Mtb droplets and fluid spray technology to elucidate Mtb transmission

> **NIH NIH P01** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2021 · $464,821

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), kills more people than any other
infectious disease each year. This is due, in large part, to its ability to spread from person to person through air
with an estimated infectious dose as low as one organism. Knowledge of the specific physico-chemical
conditions associated with Mtb's successful transmission through air from one host to another however
remains surprisingly incomplete. This project proposes to use applied mathematics, rheology, interfacial
physics, and novel fluid dynamics and droplet biophysics technologies to fill critical gaps in knowledge about
the in-host and between-host microenvironment of respirable droplets that can transmit Mtb. Knowledge of
such properties represents a conceptually powerful window into microbiological determinants of tuberculosis
(TB) transmission and novel transmission blocking interventions. These studies thus not only promise to shed
light on the fundamental environmental challenges faced by Mtb during its journey from one host to others, but,
in collaboration with other projects and cores in this application, will also enable the development of new and
sorely needed technologies for improved in vitro and animal models with which to enable experimental studies
of TB transmission and novel transmission blocking interventions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10190652
- **Project number:** 1P01AI159402-01
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Lydia Bourouiba
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $464,821
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-05-13 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10190652

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10190652, Project 4: Biophysics of Mtb droplets and fluid spray technology to elucidate Mtb transmission (1P01AI159402-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10190652. Licensed CC0.

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