2416498
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Sttr Phase I: The Sonovoice Voice Evaluation and Monitoring System
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in its potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders.
Voice disorders affect an estimated one in eight adults in the United States annually, costing nearly $15 billion in healthcare expenses.
This proposal focuses on a portable digital device and smartphone application for voice health evaluations to potentially enhance our understanding of vocal health.
The potential societal impact of the innovation could be to improve the quality of life for millions of individuals with voice disorders.
The commercial potential of the system derives from its potential large user base: it is designed to meet the needs of both voice-specialized clinicians and the primary care workforce, addressing a substantial market opportunity.
The proposed technology employs a unique combination of modern digital electronics and machine learning that provides a durable competitive advantage centered on affordability, portability, and precision.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project proposes to develop a novel system for voice health evaluation.
The problem being addressed is the current lack of accessible, precise, and affordable tools for diagnosing voice disorders.
The research objectives are to conduct iterative prototyping and calibration of a digital device and smartphone application, followed by their rigorous validation with human subjects to ensure accuracy and reliability in voice health evaluations.
The proposed research will involve initial concept design, feasibility testing, iterative prototyping, calibration, and extensive validation with human subjects to ensure the precision, reliability, and user-friendliness of the multimodal voice assessment tool.
The anticipated technical result is the successful development of an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use device for voice health evaluation that captures and classifies differential vocal performance over a range of vocal tract resistances, thereby providing a comprehensive picture of vocal function.
This project's intellectual merit lies in its potential to advance knowledge in the field of vocal health assessment, providing a solution that is not only technologically advanced but also broadly accessible.
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 broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in its potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders.
Voice disorders affect an estimated one in eight adults in the United States annually, costing nearly $15 billion in healthcare expenses.
This proposal focuses on a portable digital device and smartphone application for voice health evaluations to potentially enhance our understanding of vocal health.
The potential societal impact of the innovation could be to improve the quality of life for millions of individuals with voice disorders.
The commercial potential of the system derives from its potential large user base: it is designed to meet the needs of both voice-specialized clinicians and the primary care workforce, addressing a substantial market opportunity.
The proposed technology employs a unique combination of modern digital electronics and machine learning that provides a durable competitive advantage centered on affordability, portability, and precision.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project proposes to develop a novel system for voice health evaluation.
The problem being addressed is the current lack of accessible, precise, and affordable tools for diagnosing voice disorders.
The research objectives are to conduct iterative prototyping and calibration of a digital device and smartphone application, followed by their rigorous validation with human subjects to ensure accuracy and reliability in voice health evaluations.
The proposed research will involve initial concept design, feasibility testing, iterative prototyping, calibration, and extensive validation with human subjects to ensure the precision, reliability, and user-friendliness of the multimodal voice assessment tool.
The anticipated technical result is the successful development of an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use device for voice health evaluation that captures and classifies differential vocal performance over a range of vocal tract resistances, thereby providing a comprehensive picture of vocal function.
This project's intellectual merit lies in its potential to advance knowledge in the field of vocal health assessment, providing a solution that is not only technologically advanced but also broadly accessible.
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 (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
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Raleigh,
North Carolina
27603-5945
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 08/31/25 to 08/31/26 and the total obligations have increased 7% from $275,000 to $295,000.
Sonovoice was awarded
Project Grant 2416498
worth $295,000
from National Science Foundation in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Raleigh North Carolina United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years 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
STTR Phase I
Title
STTR Phase I: The SonoVoice Voice Evaluation and Monitoring System
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project lies in its potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders. Voice disorders affect an estimated one in eight adults in the United States annually, costing nearly $15 billion in healthcare expenses. This proposal focuses on a portable digital device and smartphone application for voice health evaluations to potentially enhance our understanding of vocal health. The potential societal impact of the innovation could be to improve the quality of life for millions of individuals with voice disorders. The commercial potential of the system derives from its potential large user base: it is designed to meet the needs of both voice-specialized clinicians and the primary care workforce, addressing a substantial market opportunity. The proposed technology employs a unique combination of modern digital electronics and machine learning that provides a durable competitive advantage centered on affordability, portability and precision.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project proposes to develop a novel system for voice health evaluation. The problem being addressed is the current lack of accessible, precise, and affordable tools for diagnosing voice disorders. The research objectives are to conduct iterative prototyping and calibration of a digital device and smartphone application, followed by their rigorous validation with human subjects to ensure accuracy and reliability in voice health evaluations. The proposed research will involve initial concept design, feasibility testing, iterative prototyping, calibration, and extensive validation with human subjects to ensure the precision, reliability, and user-friendliness of the multimodal voice assessment tool. The anticipated technical result is the successful development of an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use device for voice health evaluation that captures and classifies differential vocal performance over a range of vocal tract resistances, thereby providing a comprehensive picture of vocal function. This project's intellectual merit lies in its potential to advance knowledge in the field of vocal health assessment, providing a solution that is not only technologically advanced but also broadly accessible.
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
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/12/25
Period of Performance
9/15/24
Start Date
8/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$295.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$295.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to 2416498
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2416498
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
XJSUHK7NY9A4
Awardee CAGE
9CKS6
Performance District
NC-02
Senators
Thom Tillis
Ted Budd
Ted Budd
Modified: 8/12/25