Project Number: 6615-32000-043-24
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 11, 2007
End Date: Aug 30, 2009

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative project is to develop field-deployable devices for sustained release of compounds that prevent mosquitoes and biting flies from locating U.S. Military personnel and thereby reducing their risk of acquiring arthropod-borne illnesses.

Approach:
BioGuard R&D will work with USDA to produce a device that incorporates patented compounds that mask attractive odors released by humans. The sustained release of the chemicals provides protection by cloaking or masking the attractive odors produced by military personnel in an area. Devices will be designed to protect individuals in a localized area by slowly releasing the active chemicals and producing a spatial zone of protection from biting insects. The expertise of BioGuard R&D is needed to produce and engineer a suitable device of proper material based upon material sciences that allows successful usage of this technology.