Creating a urine test for easy at-home monitoring of blood Phe levels in PKU patients
Official title: Development of a Urine Test for At-Home Monitoring of Blood Phe Levels for PKU
Funded at Circa Bioscience, LLC · NIH-10822515 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new, easy urine test that lets people with phenylketonuria (PKU) check their blood Phe levels at home, so they can get quick results and manage their condition better without waiting for blood test results.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Circa Bioscience, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $295,724 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HD112228-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10822515 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU), particularly those aged 0-21 who require regular monitoring of their blood Phe levels.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have phenylketonuria or those who are not actively managing their Phe levels may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a simple, noninvasive urine test that allows individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) to monitor their blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels at home. Currently, blood tests are required to track Phe levels, which can take days for results, making it difficult for patients to manage their condition effectively. The proposed test aims to provide immediate feedback, enabling daily monitoring and better control of Phe levels, which is crucial for preventing neurological damage. This innovation is inspired by the success of at-home glucose meters used by diabetics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the quality of life for PKU patients by allowing them to manage their condition more effectively and prevent serious health complications.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches in developing at-home monitoring tests for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, have shown significant success, indicating a promising potential for this novel test for PKU.
Where this research is happening
-
Circa Bioscience, LLC
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Champaigne, Kevin D — Circa Bioscience, LLC
- Study coordinator: Champaigne, Kevin D
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.