Columbia University in the City of New York, $25,000
To prevent Ebola infection from improperly decontaminated clothing and other surfaces, this E-Team is developing Highlight,a powdered additive that greatly improves the process of surface decontamination. Highlight colorizes bleach solution, visualizing treated regions to eliminate uncertainty of complete coverage. The pigment gradually loses color over 10-15 minutes so that the bleach dries clear, ensuring that the requisite ten minutes of decontaminant contact time is achieved without permanent staining.
Highlight is used by the Fire Department of New York and is a winner of the USAID Fighting Ebola Grand Challenge. Highlight ensures the safety of our healthcare workers.