Zach DeVries, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of entomologist Coby Schal, has received a National Institutes of Health Director’s Early Independence Award, part of the federal agency’s High-Risk, High Reward Research program. The award will provide $250,000 per year for five years.
DeVries will use the award to expand upon his previous findings that bed bug produced histamine is substantial and persistent in bed bug infested homes. He will look to comprehensively document the prevalence and distribution of histamine in homes infested with bed bugs and determine the health risks of exposure to environmental histamine, both of which are critical to promote human health and well-being indoors.
Originally published Oct. 1, 2019.