LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 19, 2025) — More than 25 million people in the U.S. live with asthma, and cockroach allergens are a key trigger in many low-income, urban settings.
A University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE)-led research team, with collaborators at Louisiana State University, has received a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Healthy Homes Technical Study award to develop a complete and durable approach to cockroach control in affordable housing. The project, “A Complete Approach to Cockroach Management in Affordable Housing Communities,” is funded by a nearly $1 million cooperative agreement with HUD.
The study is designed to reduce allergen loads by pairing proven pest biology with resident-supported practices and procurement reforms that reward effective methods. The team will work across multiple affordable housing communities, enrolling about 50 homes for in-home trials and pairing with surveys and laboratory testing…