R01AI155959

Sample-to-answer, rapid, multiplexed, and PCR-free diagnostics of arboviral diseases in resource-limited settings - Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) comprise many of the most important 'emerging pathogens' due to their geographic spread and their increasing impact on vulnerable human populations.

There is an urgent need for easy-to-operate and rapidly deployable diagnostic tools that can handle blood samples in a closed sample-to-answer manner. Here, we propose to develop a novel diagnostic technology that can detect viral antigens in an inexpensive, ultrasensitive, specific, and multiplexed manner. We will develop our novel approach into a standalone tool with a detection capability at attomolar sensitivities (comparable to nucleic acid amplification tests) to diagnose arboviral infections with minimal user interference.

The integrated diagnostic platform will utilize a novel surrogate approach, microfluidic integration, and a multiplexed detection scheme with the capacity to distinguish arboviral infections. The system will be designed to initiate diagnosis from serum/plasma/blood and provide a sample-to-answer diagnostic within less than 35 minutes using less than 100 μL blood samples at a cost of $2 per test.

Collaborative work proposed for this NIH/NIAID R01 grant involves integration of nanophotonic engineering (Yanik Group), molecular virology (Pinsky Group), and infectious diseases epidemiology (Labeaud Group) to build and field-test our novel point-of-care viral diagnostic platform with Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) and St. George's University teams (Macpherson, Waechter, and Noel Groups).

Preliminary validation tests with patient samples will be initially performed at Stanford Medical Facility in collaboration with Labeaud and Pinsky Groups. Subsequently, three prototypes will be transferred to Grenada for field-testing initially at central laboratories, then to resource-poor settings in small towns.

Yanik Group will provide the necessary expertise for integration of molecular and nanoengineering components and demonstration of a practical prototype, as well as evaluating the application of prototype(s) developed under this proposal with patient samples (Labeaud and Pinsky Groups). The system will be iteratively optimized, and a rugged platform suitable for field settings will be developed.

Santa Cruz University Of California

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

Santa Cruz, California 950641077 United States

Single Zip Code

Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-19-158)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 364% from $771,450 to $3,579,220.