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2335565

Project Grant

Overview

Grant Description
Sbir Phase I: Inqr: A Low-Cost, Smart, Portable Spectroscopy Device for Material Authentication -this small business innovation research phase I project aims to develop and commercialize a handheld authentication device, based on the principle of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectroscopy, that can help improve the health and safety of the general public.

The portable form factor and low cost of the device will make it accessible for everyone to utilize without any restrictions. The powerful analytical capability of this device to provide accurate and reliable results quickly and non-invasively can be used in different stages of the modern supply chain.

Specific use cases of the device will include the law-enforcement agencies and postal systems, where it can be used to rapidly identify and isolate illegal drugs, thereby mitigating the illegal drug epidemic. In addition to its use in law enforcement and forensics, this spectroscopy technology has potential applications in the medical field for drug screening and monitoring. Its applicability in drug and pharmaceutical products detection alone will impact a multi-billion-dollar market. Overall, this innovation will greatly enhance our scientific and technical understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the NQR spectroscopy technology for chemical analysis and create a pathway for its widespread deployment in diverse fields.

The intellectual merit of this project lies in utilizing NQR spectroscopy to provide a highly specific and sensitive method at low cost for detecting drugs based on their unique chemical identifiers (UCIs). The project will focus on developing a portable NQR spectrometer device for general consumer use to detect and identify various compounds based on their unique chemical and structural properties in the solid state.

NQR spectroscopy can detect drugs that may be difficult to identify using other techniques, such as those that are highly pure or are concealed in complex mixtures or disguised as other substances. The project will explore new approaches to improving the sensitivity based on pre-polarization methods, as well as size, cost, and selectivity of NQR spectroscopy for drug detection, as well as developing new portable instrumentation.

Major hardware components, including the broadband tuner and backend signal processing unit, will be custom designed to minimize the footprint and improve sensitivity. The device will be extensively evaluated for wide range of drugs and other substances (e.g., dietary supplements, which often include unregulated harmful chemicals) for its efficacy in commercial settings. 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 not planned for this award.
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE I", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23515
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Gainesville, Florida 32606-4750 United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 7% from $274,997 to $294,997.
Resonance Signatures was awarded Project Grant 2335565 worth $294,997 from National Science Foundation in May 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Gainesville Florida United States. The grant has a duration of 1 year and was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships. The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.

SBIR Details

Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: iNQR: A Low-cost, Smart, Portable Spectroscopy Device for Material Authentication
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to develop and commercialize a handheld authentication device, based on the principle of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectroscopy, that can help improve the health and safety of the general public. The portable form factor and low cost of the device will make it accessible for everyone to utilize without any restrictions. The powerful analytical capability of this device to provide accurate and reliable results quickly and non-invasively can be used in different stages of the modern supply chain. Specific use cases of the device will include the law-enforcement agencies and postal systems, where it can be used to rapidly identify and isolate illegal drugs, thereby mitigating the illegal drug epidemic. In addition to its use in law enforcement and forensics, this spectroscopy technology has potential applications in the medical field for drug screening and monitoring. Its applicability in drug and pharmaceutical products detection alone will impact a multi-billion-dollar market. Overall, this innovation will greatly enhance our scientific and technical understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the NQR spectroscopy technology for chemical analysis and create a pathway for its widespread deployment in diverse fields. The intellectual merit of this project lies in utilizing NQR spectroscopy to provide a highly specific and sensitive method at low cost for detecting drugs based on their unique chemical identifiers (UCIs). The project will focus on developing a portable NQR spectrometer device for general consumer use to detect and identify various compounds based on their unique chemical and structural properties in the solid state. NQR spectroscopy can detect drugs that may be difficult to identify using other techniques, such as those that are highly pure or are concealed in complex mixtures or disguised as other substances. The project will explore new approaches to improving the sensitivity based on pre-polarization methods, as well as size, cost, and selectivity of NQR spectroscopy for drug detection, as well as developing new portable instrumentation. Major hardware components, including the broadband tuner and backend signal processing unit, will be custom designed to minimize the footprint and improve sensitivity. The device will be extensively evaluated for wide range of drugs and other substances (e.g., dietary supplements, which often include unregulated harmful chemicals) for its efficacy in commercial settings. 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
DH
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-515

Status
(Complete)

Last Modified 11/20/24

Period of Performance
5/1/24
Start Date
4/30/25
End Date
100% Complete

Funding Split
$295.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$295.0K
Total Obligated
100.0% Federal Funding
0.0% Non-Federal Funding

Activity Timeline

Interactive chart of timeline of amendments to 2335565

Transaction History

Modifications to 2335565

Additional Detail

Award ID FAIN
2335565
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
GMXXFPZV51F4
Awardee CAGE
9F2Z6
Performance District
FL-03
Senators
Marco Rubio
Rick Scott
Modified: 11/20/24