SMURF Feasibility Study of Nasal Photodisinfection Presented at National Respiratory Conference

Ondine Biomedical Inc. (“Ondine”), a leader in light-activated antimicrobial therapies to prevent and treat hospital infections, announces that results from the SMURF feasibility pilot study (“Suppression of Microbial Burden to Reduce Pneumonia in Critical Illness”) were presented at the 2026 Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (“CSRT”) Annual Conference held from 21-23 May in Whistler, Canada.

The single-centre study, conducted at Royal Columbian Hospital (“RCH”), evaluated the feasibility of implementing a nasal photodisinfection protocol in critically ill patients to reduce microbial burden. The study represents an early-stage investigation of a non-antibiotic approach in the ICU setting. While the SMURF study was not designed or powered to demonstrate reductions in pneumonia or other clinical outcomes, exploratory findings included observed reductions in hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia rates, supporting further investigation in larger studies.

The presentation was delivered by the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Elizabeth Rohrs, and highlighted operational feasibility, protocol adherence, and considerations for future clinical research in critically ill populations.

The findings were previously published in the April 2026 issue of Critical Care. The publication is available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13054-026-06008-7

The CSRT Annual Conference is a national meeting for respiratory therapists and critical care professionals, providing a platform for the presentation of clinical research and discussion of advances in respiratory care.

Dr. Elizabeth Rohrs, PhD, RRT, RCH principal investigator and RCH Foundation Research Director:

“We were pleased to present the SMURF study findings on behalf of our Royal Columbian Hospital AIM research team at the CSRT Annual Conference. These results highlight the feasibility of implementing a nasal photodisinfection protocol in a critical care setting and provide intriguing early indications that this approach may help reduce ICU-acquired infections, including hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia. While the study was exploratory in nature, the findings support further investigation in larger clinical studies.“

Carolyn Cross, CEO, Ondine Biomedical:

“We are grateful to the AIM research team and clinical staff for their expertise, dedication and collaboration throughout this study. We also thank Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation for its support in enabling innovation and research infrastructure that facilitates early-stage clinical investigation.“

About the CSRT

The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists is the national professional association for respiratory therapists, supporting excellence in respiratory therapy through education, research, and professional development.