In Chemico Test for Identifying Dermal Corrosives
Official title: An In Chemico Test to Identify Dermal Corrosives
Funded at Lebrun Labs, LLC · NIH-11295387 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nonanimal, quick lab-and-field test to identify substances that can damage human skin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lebrun Labs, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Anaheim, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,088,111 |
| NIH project number | 5R44ES036065-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11295387 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients; this is a chemical safety test.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals will not participate in clinical procedures; there is no direct patient testing in this grant.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a nonanimal, high-throughput test that can predict whether a chemical will corrode skin. It uses a shelf-stable, cell-free chemistry with a proprietary skin-marker that changes when exposed to corrosive materials, allowing rapid color-based readouts. A field kit and a laboratory kit have been developed, with a patent filed, and the team plans to advance the test toward broader use in safety testing and product regulation. The goal is to reduce animal testing while improving the speed and accuracy of identifying dangerous substances before they come into contact with people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could speed up safer product development and reduce animal testing while protecting people from skin injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results show a measurable conformational change in a skin-marker protein when exposed to corrosives, with a field and lab kit already assembled; further validation is planned.
Where this research is happening
-
Lebrun Labs, LLC
Anaheim, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lebrun, Stewart — Lebrun Labs, LLC
- Study coordinator: Lebrun, Stewart
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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.