2322379
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase II: Novel Size-Changing, Gadolinium-Free Contrast Agent for Magnetic Resonance Angiography - The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will provide a tool for vascular imaging, an area of medicine with a large clinical need.
The developed blood pool contrast agent (BPCA) has the potential to disrupt the current magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) contrast agent market because of its improved safety profile and enhanced imaging of the vascular system compared to current gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).
The proposed technology has the potential to improve the diagnosis and safety of contrast-enhanced MRA. This creates a win-win-win scenario for everyone involved. For patients with vascular disease, this solution provides a safer alternative with a more accurate diagnosis that will allow doctors to prescribe safer, more effective treatments. For the patient's family, it reduces financial and social burdens by enabling preventive treatment due to earlier disease detection. For radiologists, the clearer MRA images may lead to more accurate diagnoses.
The product will be marketed to radiologists and medical institutions that perform MRA to diagnose vascular thrombosis, renal stenosis, and pediatric MRA.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to optimize an iron-based BPCA for use in MRA for the detection of vascular diseases. Contrast-enhanced MRA is a staple diagnostic procedure for imaging blood vessels. The market is currently dominated by gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) due to their excellent contrast enhancing effects; however, due to their potential toxicity, GBCAs are designed to be rapidly cleared, leaving only a short window for MRA image acquisition and resulting in suboptimal image quality of blood vessels.
To address the need for a safer contrast agent able to provide enhanced vascular imaging, the Phase II project will optimize an iron-based contrast agent that will enable an extended imaging window for improved MRA resolution, but which is removed by kidney filtration.
The research objectives include: (1) optimizing the minimum viable product to enable dose reduction and enhance the safety profile; (2) evaluating diagnostic imaging efficacy and toxicology; and (3) demonstrating a scale-up manufacturing process for the synthesis of the final formulation.
This solution addresses the major points required to de-risk commercialization and bring the technology closer to the market. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. - Subawards are planned for this award.
The developed blood pool contrast agent (BPCA) has the potential to disrupt the current magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) contrast agent market because of its improved safety profile and enhanced imaging of the vascular system compared to current gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).
The proposed technology has the potential to improve the diagnosis and safety of contrast-enhanced MRA. This creates a win-win-win scenario for everyone involved. For patients with vascular disease, this solution provides a safer alternative with a more accurate diagnosis that will allow doctors to prescribe safer, more effective treatments. For the patient's family, it reduces financial and social burdens by enabling preventive treatment due to earlier disease detection. For radiologists, the clearer MRA images may lead to more accurate diagnoses.
The product will be marketed to radiologists and medical institutions that perform MRA to diagnose vascular thrombosis, renal stenosis, and pediatric MRA.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to optimize an iron-based BPCA for use in MRA for the detection of vascular diseases. Contrast-enhanced MRA is a staple diagnostic procedure for imaging blood vessels. The market is currently dominated by gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) due to their excellent contrast enhancing effects; however, due to their potential toxicity, GBCAs are designed to be rapidly cleared, leaving only a short window for MRA image acquisition and resulting in suboptimal image quality of blood vessels.
To address the need for a safer contrast agent able to provide enhanced vascular imaging, the Phase II project will optimize an iron-based contrast agent that will enable an extended imaging window for improved MRA resolution, but which is removed by kidney filtration.
The research objectives include: (1) optimizing the minimum viable product to enable dose reduction and enhance the safety profile; (2) evaluating diagnostic imaging efficacy and toxicology; and (3) demonstrating a scale-up manufacturing process for the synthesis of the final formulation.
This solution addresses the major points required to de-risk commercialization and bring the technology closer to the market. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. - Subawards are planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PHASE II (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE II", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23516
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding Agency
Place of Performance
Auburn,
Alabama
36832-5888
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased from $999,676 to $1,006,876.
Nanoxort was awarded
Cooperative Agreement 2322379
worth $1,006,876
from in September 2023 with work to be completed primarily in Auburn Alabama United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase II Programs (SBIR/STTR Phase II).
SBIR Details
Research Type
STTR Phase II
Title
SBIR Phase II: Novel size-changing, gadolinium-free contrast agent for magnetic resonance angiography
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will provide a tool for vascular imaging, an area of medicine with a large clinical need. The developed blood pool contrast agent (BPCA) has the potential to disrupt the current magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) contrast agent market because of its improved safety profile and enhanced imaging of the vascular system compared to current gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). The proposed technology has the potential to improve the diagnosis and safety of contrast-enhanced MRA. This creates a win-win-win scenario for everyone involved. For patients with vascular disease, this solution provides a safer alternative with a more accurate diagnosis that will allow doctors to prescribe safer, more effective treatments. For the patient’s family, it reduces financial and social burdens by enabling preventive treatment due to earlier disease detection. For radiologists, the clearer MRA images may lead to more accurate diagnoses. The product will be marketed to radiologists and medical institutions that perform MRA to diagnose vascular thrombosis, renal stenosis, and pediatric MRA._x000D_ _x000D_ This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to optimize an iron-based BPCA for use in MRA for the detection of vascular diseases. Contrast-enhanced MRA is a staple diagnostic procedure for imaging blood vessels.The market is currently dominated by gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) due to their excellent contrast enhancing effects; however, due to their potential toxicity, GBCAs are designed to be rapidly cleared, leaving only a short window for MRA image acquisition and resulting in suboptimal image quality of blood vessels. To address the need for a safer contrast agent able to provide enhanced vascular imaging, the Phase II project will optimize an iron-based contrast agent that will enable an extended imaging window for improved MRA resolution, but which is removed by kidney filtration. The research objectives include: (1) optimizing the minimum viable product to enable dose reduction and enhance the safety profile; (2) evaluating diagnostic imaging efficacy and toxicology; and (3) demonstrating a scale-up manufacturing process for the synthesis of the final formulation. This solution addresses the major points required to de-risk commercialization and bring the technology closer to the market._x000D_ _x000D_ This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
BM
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-516
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 3/18/25
Period of Performance
9/1/23
Start Date
8/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$1.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$1.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to 2322379
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2322379
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
XEFGPVQ94B79
Awardee CAGE
86NR2
Performance District
AL-03
Senators
Tommy Tuberville
Katie Britt
Katie Britt
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research and Related Activities, National Science Foundation (049-0100) | General science and basic research | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $999,676 | 100% |
Modified: 3/18/25