Sensitive Lateral Flow Assay using Dissolvable Nasal Swabs
Influenza (flu) infections are commonly diagnosed using Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests or RIDTs that are inexpensive, do not require specialized equipment, and can provide results within 15 minutes. RIDTs, however, often produce false negative results requiring that their outcomes be validated with advanced tests which largely compromises their time and cost benefits. In this project, […]
Making the Case for Higher Taxes
This project by the Institute for Macroeconomic and Policy Analysis (IMPA) translates research on corporate taxation into actionable tools and policy evaluations. Challenging traditional critiques, the research shows that increasing corporate tax rates reduces inequality in income and wealth and generates significant government revenue without harming investment and economic growth. Through policy briefs, open-access code […]
Hydrogel Plant Growth Substrates with Intact Microbiomes for Controlled Environment Agriculture
The key objective of this project is to develop a fundamentally unique PGS that is vastly superior to rockwool. This will be accomplished by encapsulating beneficial bacteria within hydrogel soil surrogates to recreate a natural root zone, complete with an intact microbiome. Referred to as MicroBiome-Utilizing Growth Substrates (μBUGS), these materials will host the microbiome […]
Full 3D-Tomography (F3DT) Software
F3DT is a new technology for non-invasive imaging of the interior of an object. It is like the CT scan for imaging the interior of the human body, but instead of using radiative X-rays, it uses non-invasive mechanical waves (i.e., elastic waves in solids, sound waves in liquids). F3DT has a wide range of applications, […]
Establishing Measures for an Institutional Designation for Teaching Excellence Colleges and Universities
This project develops a Teaching Excellence Colleges & Universities (TECU) designation to advance societal impact by promoting equitable and high-quality college teaching. Building on 15 years of research and a large-scale observational study of over 700 courses, the initiative will establish TECU metrics, pilot evaluations at select institutions, and create a national network for innovation. […]
Revitalizing Public Anthropology for Societal Impact
The Department of Anthropology at American University has launched “Revitalizing Public Anthropology for Societal Impact,” a four-aim initiative focused on building a sustainable translational infrastructure.
Translating hydrology and water quality research to advance education and environmental policymaking in American Samoa
This project translates groundbreaking research on groundwater flow, water quality, and ecosystem health in Nuʻuuli Pala Lagoon, American Samoa’s largest and most threatened wetland, into actionable tools and resources. Building on NOAA-funded findings that quantified groundwater and pollutant inputs, the team will engage local stakeholders through bilingual signage, a dedicated website, workshops, and hydrology courses […]
Modeling clinical trial outcomes with trial design using machine learning
To begin feeding the pipeline of projects moving through the research translation process, TRAC started incubating this project in 2024. Professor Bei Xiao’s project couples machine learning for natural language processing and human predictions to determine the success of new treatments in clinical drug trials based on trial descriptions. This work will translate NSF-funded research […]
Vicarious Trauma in Counterterrorism Practitioners
This STRP translated into policy impacts the findings from the Vicarious Trauma in Counterterrorism Practitioners, led by co-PI Young and financed by DHS, which developed a baseline understanding of how counterterrorism practitioners are affected by exposure to violence and the implications this may have on the resilience and future development of the homeland security workforce.
Integration, calibration, and operational testing of a modular UGV/UAV magnetic survey system designed for ground and low-altitude UXO detection and classification.
The project aims to develop and deploy a modular UAV/UGV magnetic survey system for detecting and marking unexploded ordnance (UXO) in post-conflict areas. This system promises to enhance land reclamation efforts’ safety, efficiency, and accuracy.
