**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HUMAN BEINGS HAVE BEEN THREATENED BY VARIOUS PLAGUES, EPIDEMICS AND OTHER CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. FOR BACTERIA AND VIRUSES, THESE INFECTIOUS AGENTS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY DISPERSED SIMPLY THROUGH TOUCH. WHILE THERE ARE MANY PRODUCTS THAT KILL BACTERIA, MOST NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY REAPPLIED TO SURFACES AND MANY HAVE A CAUSTIC NATURE. THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON ENGINEERING ADVANCED ANTIMICROBIAL THERMOSETTING BIO-POLYMERS FROM AGRICULTURAL-BASED NON-EDIBLE WASTE OIL FEEDSTOCKS. THE BIO-POLYMERS ARE DESIGNED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACTIVELY AND REPEATEDLY KILL BACTERIA. THE APPROACHES TO BE USED FOR PRODUCING THEM ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND COST EFFECTIVE. THE UTILIZATION OF NON-EDIBLE FEEDSTOCKS SUCH AS THE PLANT CROPS WILL REDUCE THE COMPETITION FOR FOOD, WHILE THE UTILIZATION OF WASTE OILS IS ECONOMICAL BECAUSE THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE TO DISPOSE. THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE AN ENORMOUSLY POSITIVE IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SYSTEM AND PUBLIC HEALTH BY PROVIDING MEANS OF PREVENTING MICROBIAL COLONIZATION ON VARIOUS HUMAN CONTACT MATERIALS. FOR EXAMPLE, OFFICE FURNISHINGS, PUBLIC TOILET SEATS AND LIDS, COUNTERTOPS, FLOORINGS AND OTHER SURFACES ARE USUALLY HIGHLY CONTAMINATED; IF THEIR SURFACES ARE COATED WITH THE DESIGNED ANTIMICROBIAL THERMOSETTING BIO-POLYMERS, CONTAGIOUS PATHOGENIC MICROBES WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED IF NOT COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.