Alvernia University collaboration selected among 47 projects statewide in Governor Shapiro’s $3.1 million investment in manufacturing innovation
ALLENTOWN, PA — LifeAire Systems, a global leader in medical grade air purification technology, today announced that its partnership with Alvernia University has been selected as one of 47 approved projects in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Manufacturing PA Innovation Program for 2026.
The Shapiro Administration announced more than $3.1 million in grants through the program, supporting partnerships between Pennsylvania manufacturing companies and university research teams across 21 Pennsylvania universities in 19 counties. The program, which has invested more than $17.9 million since its inception in 2018 and supported more than 202 Pennsylvania companies, embeds undergraduate and graduate students with local manufacturers to develop new technologies, advance innovation, and strengthen the Commonwealth’s manufacturing base.
The LifeAire and Alvernia University project focuses on the development and pilot implementation of an RFID and barcode-enabled inventory control and lot traceability system at LifeAire’s Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility. The initiative will modernize inventory management by improving the tracking of raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, and customer shipments — providing end-to-end lot traceability throughout the manufacturing process. Grant funding will support software implementation, scanning hardware, consulting services, and student-led development activities, while LifeAire will contribute in-kind personnel support, equipment, and operational expertise.
The project is expected to improve inventory accuracy, operational efficiency, and manufacturing scalability, while providing hands-on advanced manufacturing experience for Alvernia University students.
“This collaboration reflects exactly the kind of forward investment we need to make as we scale,” said Eric J. Aulicino, CEO of LifeAire Systems. “Building a robust, traceable manufacturing infrastructure is not just an operational improvement — it is a foundation for the growth we are committed to delivering. We are grateful to Alvernia University, the O’Pake Institute, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for making this partnership possible.”
The collaboration was advanced through the engagement of Dr. Caitlin Long, Ph.D., PA-C, Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation Commercialization at Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, whose work connecting industry, academia, and regional economic development organizations made the partnership possible.
LifeAire Systems designs and manufactures its patented air purification systems in Pennsylvania. The company’s technology has been validated in peer-reviewed, IRB-approved clinical studies published in Surgery, the ASHRAE Transaction Journal, and Fertility and Sterility, and is deployed in leading hospitals, IVF programs, and senior living facilities worldwide, including Mayo Clinic, Stanford University Medical Center, Yale University Medical Center, and Duke University Medical Center. LifeAire received the Bronze Edison Award in 2025 and the Silver Edison Award in 2026 for innovation in healthcare environments, and is supported by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
For more information about the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program, visit dced.pa.gov. For more information about LifeAire Systems, visit lifeaire.com.
About LifeAire Systems
LifeAire Systems is a global leader in medical grade air purification technology, designing and deploying patented systems for IVF laboratories, hospitals, long-term care and senior living facilities, life sciences environments, and commercial applications. Founded by Dr. Kathryn C. Worrilow, Ph.D., LifeAire’s technology is backed by peer-reviewed, IRB-approved clinical evidence published in leading journals and is the only air purification system to offer a written guarantee of the air purity delivered to every protected space. For more information, visit lifeaire.com.
About Alvernia University and the O’Pake Institute
Alvernia University is a values-based institution in Reading, Pennsylvania. The O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship serves as a regional hub for innovation, technology commercialization, workforce development, and economic growth, connecting industry, academia, entrepreneurs, investors, and economic development organizations across the Berks County region and beyond.
Media Contact: LifeAire Systems [email protected] lifeaire.com