Creating a sensor to quickly detect leaks of cerebrospinal fluid.
Official title: Development of a Colorimetric Sensor for Detection of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks
Funded at Drinksavvy, INC. · NIH-10758856 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a quick and easy test that helps doctors and EMTs find out if someone has a cerebrospinal fluid leak right away, instead of waiting days for lab results, which can make a big difference in getting the right treatment faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drinksavvy, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 2, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $840,440 |
| NIH project number | 5R44NS130769-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10758856 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients experiencing symptoms of cerebrospinal fluid leaks, such as clear fluid discharge from the nose or ear, especially following a traumatic brain injury or surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not exhibit symptoms of cerebrospinal fluid leaks or who are not undergoing procedures that pose a risk for such leaks may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a colorimetric biosensor that can rapidly diagnose cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks at the point of care, such as in emergency departments or ambulances. The sensor aims to help medical professionals, including EMTs and surgeons, identify CSF leaks quickly, which can occur due to traumatic brain injuries or during certain surgical procedures. Currently, diagnosing these leaks requires sending samples to labs, which can take several days, delaying treatment and increasing risks for patients. By providing immediate results, this technology could significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce complications associated with misdiagnosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses of cerebrospinal fluid leaks, reducing the risk of serious complications like meningitis and stroke.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using a colorimetric sensor for CSF leak detection is innovative, similar point-of-care diagnostic technologies have shown success in other medical fields.
Where this research is happening
-
Drinksavvy, INC.
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Min — Drinksavvy, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hu, Min
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.