## The problem

Advances in AI and biotechnology are raising the risk of engineered pathogens. For worst-case scenarios (Measles or worse) we'll need to reduce indoor pathogen concentration by >1000x. Even high-quality N95s can only get us ~100x. We need scalable indoor airborne countermeasures.

Glycol vapors are one of the most promising candidates:

- Early tests show ~10x pathogen concentration reduction.
- Stacked with PPE, they could be enough to stop spread in many bad scenarios.
- The active ingredient (propylene glycol) is already produced industrially, at enough scale to cover ~75% of US floor space.

But the technology is stuck in insufficient-evidence limbo. It's hard to commercialise (off-patent), regulators are uncertain, and the trial design is hard:

- Glycols work on groups, not individuals, so testing requires cluster RCTs (potentially [thousands of participants](https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/57fd4b0a-f485-4a10-89cf-ea91672e85e6)).
- Cluster RCTs are blocked by unresolved safety concerns, uncertainty about effective concentration, and potentially expensive interactions with existing HVAC systems.

## What winning looks like

Within two to three years:

- A multi-site cluster RCT has run (or there's a confident, evidence-based decision not to run one).
- Glycol vapor systems are evidence-based, regulator-approved, and deployable in real buildings.
- At least one US institution (hospital, school, or government facility) has sustained operational deployment.

## Why now

The biggest defensive gap in worst-case pandemic scenarios is built-environment air. Glycol vapors are one of two or three scalable options. Engineered pathogen risk is rising on a faster clock than the path to evidence and regulation. This work has to happen pre-outbreak; you cannot start the trials when you need the answer.

## What this could look like in practice

- **Startup:** Glycol vapor systems integrator (devices, monitoring, building-services contracts). Acts as the credible commercial partner for regulator engagement.
- **Independent research project:** Stand up a multi-site safety and efficacy study at a university, public-health institute, or research consortium.
- **Policy and advocacy org:** Build the regulatory pathway with EPA and OSHA equivalents in the US, plus international counterparts.

## Who should do this

- **Profile:** Strong technical or scientific background. Cluster RCT, environmental health, or building HVAC experience is a major plus.
- **Archetype:** Researcher, Entrepreneur, or Policy person.
- **Commitment:** full-time, 6+ months minimum.

## How to start

1. Run the chamber-to-real-buildings efficacy bridging studies. Find a partner building, instrument it for glycol vapor concentration and air-quality variables, and run a four-week deployment.
2. Stand up the long-term safety review. Literature deep-dive on continuous propylene glycol exposure, especially for children and people with asthma or COPD. Identify the gaps that block regulator engagement.
3. Engage one regulatory body (EPA or OSHA) to scope the regulatory pathway and surface their evidence requirements.

## Source and endorsements

- **Field strategy:** BlueDot indoor air and built-environment defenses field strategy. (Link TBD.)
- **Partners and collaborators:** Blueprint, Bleu Garde.
- **Currently pursued by:** Not yet.

## Get involved

- **Funding pathway:** BlueDot exploration grant up to $20K, career transition grant up to $60K. Larger raises (a few million) via OAIF, Blueprint, or Coefficient Giving.
- **Advisors and introductions:** BlueDot can connect you to teams at Blueprint and Bleu Garde, and to contacts at relevant regulators.
- **Contact:** dewi@bluedot.org


Glycol vapors can probably kill airborne pathogens indoors at scale, but nobody has done the safety, efficacy, and deployment work to confirm. A few million dollars and a focused team could resolve the core uncertainties within 18-24 months and unblock one of the most scalable indoor airborne countermeasures.

Systematically de-risk glycol vapors for blocking indoor airborne transmission