Low-cost, easy biosensors to detect nutrient deficiencies
Systems Biology to Unlock the Next Level of Cell-Free Synthetic Biology
Making low-cost, easy-to-use biosensors that can spot nutritional deficiencies in people living in resource-limited areas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176945 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, the team will use simplified "cell-free" biochemical systems and time-course metabolomics to see how metabolic changes affect sensor signals. They will build new computer tools to model those metabolic dynamics and guide sensor design. The goal is to create low-equipment tests that can be used in clinics or community settings with limited laboratory access. Over the next five years they will characterize sources of variability and refine sensors for reliable field use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk of nutritional deficiencies in resource-limited settings who could provide samples or take part in pilot testing of the sensors.
Not a fit: People with health issues unrelated to nutrition or who need complex laboratory diagnostics are unlikely to benefit from these simple field-focused biosensors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable quicker, low-cost detection of nutrient deficiencies so people in underserved areas get treatment earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Related cell-free and paper-based biosensor approaches have shown promise in lab and small field pilots, but robust nutrition-focused field deployment is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia Institute of Technology — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Styczynski, Mark Philip-Walter — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Styczynski, Mark Philip-Walter
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 below.