Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous emerging contaminants (ECs) that are persistent throughout the environment, and ultimately enter human bodies via the food web, threatening the public health and ecosystem safety. Currently, the presence of PFAS in all types of waters and human bodies throughout the U.S. has been documented. However, cost-effective individual techniques for simultaneously removing PFAS compounds are still not available. 

A University of Maryland Grand Challenges Grant supported effort led by Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor of Fire Protection Engineering Fernando Raffan-Montoya, Professor of Fire Protection Engineering Arnaud Trouvé, and Dr.

The overarching goal of the Maryland Safe Drinking WATER (Water Analysis and Testing for Education and Research) Study is to characterize the drinking water quality of both public drinking water systems and private wells in Maryland's underserved communities using a combination of citizen science, field-based research, and laboratory

A collaboration between faculty researchers in the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS), the A. James Clark School of Engineering (ENGR), and the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program supported by the University of Maryland Grand Challenges Grants program is focused on devising innovative solutions for helping our bodies clear respiratory infections. 

A research team supported by a University of Maryland Grand Challenges Grant is addressing mental health inequities faced by low-income Latino immigrant youth through a community partnership.

Disability rights advocates often call for digital technologies and content to be built using a born-accessible approach. The born-accessible approach involves building accessibility into digital technologies and content from the beginning, meaning that only technologies that are accessible are released to users. This should lead to lower costs and eliminate the delay in access when people with disabilities are waiting for inaccessible technologies to be remediated for accessibility.

The Climate Resilience Network (CRN), a Grand Challenges Grant supported initiative, launched its first Summer Internship program in June 2024.

The University of Maryland Research Impact Fellows Program welcomed its new cohort for the 2024-2025 academic year. This initiative is a 9-month collaborative program designed to equip research leaders at the University of Maryland with the skills and resources needed to communicate about their research findings and expertise to general audiences and key stakeholders.

Mblue Labs, a University of Maryland (UMD) startup company and creator of the skin health brand Bluelene (www.bluelene.com), has been named to the prestigious CO—100: America’s Top 100 Small Businesses list, announced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Selected from over 14,000 applicants, Mblue Labs stood out for its exceptional growth, groundbreaking scientific research, resilience, and diverse and inclusive company culture. The CO—100 features a range of small businesses across industries and sizes, representing 31 states and Washington, D.C.