Chapel Hill Review

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will use funding from a scientific foundation to understand how lung and airway mucus plays into the transmission of COVID-19. 

The research team received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Mathematical Sciences, the university reported to its website on May 28. The team of researchers consists of UNC-Chapel Hill professors M. Gregory Forest from the mathematics department, Ronit Freeman from the applied physical sciences department and Samuel Lai from the Eshelman School of Pharmacy. 

“Mechanistic simulations of how COVID-19 spreads through the respiratory tract is essential to understanding the disease pathophysiology,” Forest said in the release. “This information will allow us to provide a scientific basis for targeted doses of medications to arrest and clear COVID-19 infection based on the degree of progression in the lung and any mucus compromises that cause high risk.” 

The research will be based on findings from mathematical modeling and simulations of the virus transport through mucus. 

“We are grateful to the NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences for the opportunity to pursue our ideas and strategies, and in doing so, to hopefully make a meaningful contribution to this pandemic,” Forest said in the release.