2432898
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: Developing new bacterial hosts for productive secretion of difficult-to-express proteins by precision fermentation.
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop more cost-effective ways to produce proteins.
By engineering improved bacterial strains to manufacture proteins like those found in detergents, personal care products, and dairy, better products can be made with a lower environmental impact.
Enzymes in detergents remove the need for petrochemical-based ingredients, proteins found in shampoos improve their quality also replacing chemical ingredients, and the direct production of dairy proteins by fermentation will reduce the carbon footprint of the food industry and our overreliance on industrial agriculture.
This production of proteins by bacterial fermentation has gained significant market traction and momentum, and it is expected to continue to grow at a CAGR of 44%, attaining an expected market size of $36B in 2030.
The proposed project aims to identify superior bacterial protein production hosts and to develop the genetic tools and methodologies that will allow these bacterial hosts to be converted into efficient protein factories.
It is an outstanding problem in the field of precision fermentation of proteins that yield, titers, and productivity are often much lower than would be necessary for the successful commercialization of many highly desired categories of protein.
Identifying additional protein production strains will help to alleviate this industry challenge, allowing for the manufacture of more varied protein targets at competitive economics.
The superior production hosts developed in this work will be fully characterized and matched to proteins for which they are well-suited production hosts.
The advanced genetic engineering tools pioneered in this work will be later used to modify these bacteria to maximize their potential for producing proteins relevant to the dairy and personal care industries.
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.
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop more cost-effective ways to produce proteins.
By engineering improved bacterial strains to manufacture proteins like those found in detergents, personal care products, and dairy, better products can be made with a lower environmental impact.
Enzymes in detergents remove the need for petrochemical-based ingredients, proteins found in shampoos improve their quality also replacing chemical ingredients, and the direct production of dairy proteins by fermentation will reduce the carbon footprint of the food industry and our overreliance on industrial agriculture.
This production of proteins by bacterial fermentation has gained significant market traction and momentum, and it is expected to continue to grow at a CAGR of 44%, attaining an expected market size of $36B in 2030.
The proposed project aims to identify superior bacterial protein production hosts and to develop the genetic tools and methodologies that will allow these bacterial hosts to be converted into efficient protein factories.
It is an outstanding problem in the field of precision fermentation of proteins that yield, titers, and productivity are often much lower than would be necessary for the successful commercialization of many highly desired categories of protein.
Identifying additional protein production strains will help to alleviate this industry challenge, allowing for the manufacture of more varied protein targets at competitive economics.
The superior production hosts developed in this work will be fully characterized and matched to proteins for which they are well-suited production hosts.
The advanced genetic engineering tools pioneered in this work will be later used to modify these bacteria to maximize their potential for producing proteins relevant to the dairy and personal care industries.
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.
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
Cambridge,
Massachusetts
02139-3544
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 7% from $275,000 to $295,000.
Wild Microbes Co was awarded
Project Grant 2432898
worth $295,000
from National Science Foundation in December 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Cambridge Massachusetts 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: Developing new bacterial hosts for productive secretion of difficult-to-express proteins by precision fermentation
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop more cost-effective ways to produce proteins. By engineering improved bacterial strains to manufacture proteins like those found in detergents, personal care products and dairy, better products can be made with a lower environmental impact. Enzymes in detergents remove the need for petrochemical-based ingredients, proteins found in shampoos improve their quality also replacing chemical ingredients, and the direct production of dairy proteins by fermentation will reduce the carbon footprint of the food industry and our overreliance on industrial agriculture. This production of proteins by bacterial fermentation has gained significant market traction and momentum and it is expected to continue to grow at a CAGR of 44%, attaining an expected market size of $36B in 2030.
The proposed project aims to identify superior bacterial protein production hosts and to develop the genetic tools and methodologies that will allow these bacterial hosts to be converted into efficient protein factories. It is an outstanding problem in the field of precision fermentation of proteins that yield, titers, and productivity are often much lower than would be necessary for the successful commercialization of many highly desired categories of protein. Identifying additional protein production strains will help to alleviate this industry challenge, allowing for the manufacture of more varied protein targets at competitive economics. The superior production hosts developed in this work will be fully characterized and matched to proteins for which they are well-suited production hosts. The advanced genetic engineering tools pioneered in this work will be later used to modify these bacteria to maximize their potential for producing proteins relevant to the dairy and personal care industries.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation usi
Topic Code
BT
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-515
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 8/12/25
Period of Performance
12/15/24
Start Date
11/30/25
End Date
Funding Split
$295.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$295.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to 2432898
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2432898
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
HQS8Q1VBKD41
Awardee CAGE
None
Performance District
MA-07
Senators
Edward Markey
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Modified: 8/12/25