A new method to test water for harmful chemical contaminants
Official title: Multiplexed Nuclear Receptor BioAssay platform to inexpensively and broadly survey the nation's water supply for contamination by endocrine disrupting chemicals
Funded at Xcellassay, INC. · NIH-10819976 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to test our water for harmful chemicals, so that everyone can enjoy cleaner and safer drinking water.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Xcellassay, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | March 5, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $295,923 |
| NIH project number | 1R43ES036049-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10819976 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals living in areas with known water quality issues or those concerned about exposure to chemical contaminants in their drinking water.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by water contamination or who live in regions with consistently safe water supplies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop an innovative multiplex BioAssay platform that can efficiently and cost-effectively monitor the nation's water supply for a wide range of chemical contaminants. By utilizing high-throughput molecular BioAssays, the project seeks to detect biological effects caused by endocrine disrupting chemicals and other contaminants at low concentrations. The approach focuses on expanding current monitoring capabilities beyond the limited number of chemicals typically tested, addressing the urgent need for comprehensive water safety assessments. Patients and communities can benefit from improved water quality and safety through enhanced detection methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer drinking water by enabling the detection of harmful contaminants that affect public health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using BioAssays for environmental monitoring, indicating that this approach could be a viable solution for broader water safety assessments.
Where this research is happening
-
Xcellassay, INC.
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schaufele, Fred J — Xcellassay, INC.
- Study coordinator: Schaufele, Fred J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.