SCALE is building the world's first continuous, direct nucleic-acid detection system — sensing what's in school air in real time and automatically instructing buildings to protect every student and staff member inside.
Led by Poppy Health · ARPA-H BREATHE Program
Sources: AAFA / CDC NHIS; CDC / AAFA; CDC NCHS Data Brief 545 (2024); Nurmagambetov et al., Annals ATS, 2018 via CDC.
Like the human immune system, it works in three stages — then keeps adapting.
The world's first real-time, continuous, direct nucleic acid detection of up to 100 airborne organisms — allergens, molds, viruses, bacteria. Air is accelerated to the speed of sound; concentrated nine orders of magnitude for detection. Sensors regenerate and are designed to run for extended periods without human intervention.
An intelligent assessment engine that turns what's in the air into real-time, building-specific proactive health actions. Detection and environmental data flows into the system's risk model, updated continuously as scientists deepen understanding of how organisms in bioaerosols drive human disease.
Responsive building controls — ventilation, filtration, and air treatment — that act preemptively, before exposures occur. Clean air delivery is targeted and verified using real-time air tracing technology, confirming the exact clean airflow being delivered matches what the system targeted. Closing the loop as no building has before.
Software-updateable as new organisms and exposures emerge. Interchangeable cartridges allow the system to adapt to different environments and different threats. An immune system for every building — proactively maintaining health today and into the future.
Watch how air is concentrated nine orders of magnitude, nucleic acids are extracted and identified, and electrochemical sensing detects organisms in real time — all illustrated at the molecular scale. An engineering first.
Real-time detection and automatic response to mold, allergens, respiratory viruses, and fungal spores — the exposures driving asthma, allergic rhinitis, and respiratory illness in children.
Fewer sick days means higher daily attendance — and higher per-pupil state funding that goes with it. SCALE turns air quality from a health issue into a school performance issue.
As new organisms and risks emerge, the system updates via software — no hardware replacement required. Schools are protected against threats that don't yet have names.
Low maintenance, designed to integrate with existing HVAC infrastructure. Parent- and school-facing software gives families and administrators a real-time window into the air their kids are breathing.
At the ARPA-H Healthy Buildings Demo Day in Washington DC, the SCALE team is demonstrating the full Poppy BREATHE platform — hands-on, live, and real.
Release inert DNA and watch as the system senses, assesses, and responds in real time. Track every step on a live dashboard showing aerosol levels, air quality, and the building's response.
Handle the cartridges at the heart of the world's first continuous, direct nucleic acid sensor. The molecular-scale engineering that makes real-time organism detection possible in a building-integrated device.
Interact with the parent- and school-facing software on your own device or a provided iPad. See what the system sees, in plain language, in real time.
Explore a full school building using a 3D walkthrough showing real-time tracer measurements — how clean air is targeted and verified room by room. Seeing the invisible.
SCALE deploys a full stack of sensing, control, and filtration technology, with Daikin Industries — the world's largest indoor air company — as industry transition partner.
Daikin Controller: interconnects all system devices, led by Kevin Greiber. Tidal Air Cleaner: smart-plug enabled, open-source design, led by David Carel.
SCALE is deploying across schools in every major U.S. climate zone, with a focus on underserved communities — building a national evidence base for intelligent school air infrastructure.
Confirmed performer and participant states shown. Rolling out to 40–60 public schools in 2027. Additional states active — full list forthcoming.
Dec 2025 · Official Poppy SCALE award announcement
Coverage of Poppy Health and Primary.Health's system for schools
Mar 2026 · Penn State's role developing genetic biosensors across 40 schools nationwide
Feb 2026 · UNMC investigator leading sensing technology for real-time bioaerosol detection
Official ARPA-H program overview for the SCALE team
SCALE is actively expanding to schools across the United States. Whether you're a school district, a researcher, or an industry partner, we want to hear from you.
schools@breathe2026.org