Long-Term Living Sensors for Continuous Biochemical Monitoring
Official title: Long-Term Living Sensors: A Biohybrid Diffusion-Chemostat for Chronic Health Monitoring
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11440011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new living sensor system uses tiny, self-renewing cells inside a diffusion chamber to continuously measure biochemical markers in bodily fluids without pumps or power.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $245,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EB039771-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440011 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include people with chronic conditions where continuous monitoring of biomarkers such as kidney function, inflammation, or metabolic markers could inform management.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic health issues or those unable to use wearable or in-toilet monitoring devices may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a self-renewing cell cartridge that stays viable for weeks by letting nutrients diffuse in and cells divide, while keeping the cells safely confined. It will pair genetic reporters with temperature, pH, and oxygen sensors to calibrate measurements across urine and saliva. The result could enable wearable, ingestible, or toilet-based devices that track health markers over the long term to support early interventions for chronic conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from continuous, noninvasive monitoring of important biomarkers to support personalized care and timely interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on static sensors has not achieved long-term, self-renewing biochemical measurement without continuous power.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jimenez, Miguel — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Jimenez, Miguel
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.