Donald Milton

Donald Milton is Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Maryland, with joint appointments in Public Health and Medicine. He directs the NIH-funded Evaluating Modes of Transmission (EMIT-2) study and leads the Public Health Aerobiology Lab.

Pioneering research established CO₂ monitoring as an infection risk indicator and developed exhaled breath samplers for infectious virus detection. Work demonstrated mask efficacy in reducing viral shedding, influencing global COVID-19 policies.

Current projects include controlled human influenza transmission trials and germicidal UV applications. Research spans aerosol science, building ventilation impacts, and respiratory virus dynamics.

He advises WHO on infection control guidelines and has received $2.5M in philanthropic funding for airborne infection research. Recent publications address SARS-CoV-2 aerosol dynamics and indoor air quality regulation.