NIH-funded research Sbir 1 grant

Non-Invasive nasal tests to detect Alzheimer’s and related memory problems

Official title: Non-Invasive Diagnostic Assays for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Funded at Sonas Biotechnologies INC · NIH-11402931 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A small business project is developing easy, non-invasive nasal tests to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive issues by measuring biomarkers.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 1 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSonas Biotechnologies INC
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Eugene, United States)
Project startSeptember 22, 2026
Project endSeptember 21, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$499,745
NIH project number1R43AG097098-01A1
Project IDNIH-11402931 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Individuals at risk for or showing signs of MCI or Alzheimer’s disease, including those with suspected early neurodegenerative changes.

Less likely to help

People without cognitive impairment or those whose disease does not influence biomarker levels in the nasal pathway may not benefit.

What this research studies

This project focuses on creating high-sensitivity nasal biomarkers tests to flag early neurodegenerative changes associated with MCI and Alzheimer’s disease. It aims to streamline sample collection and processing so tests could be done more simply and economically. If successful, these tests could support earlier interventions and help monitor disease progression or response to treatment. The work is in the Phase I SBIR stage, exploring feasibility of the approach and linking biomarker signals to disease status.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get earlier, less invasive detection and better monitoring of disease progression or treatment effects.

How similar studies have gone: Prior non-invasive biomarker approaches have shown promise, but nasal biomarkers for AD remain an emerging area with early positive signals.

Where this research is happening

  • Sonas Biotechnologies INC
    Eugene, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Naleway, John Joseph — Sonas Biotechnologies INC
  • Study coordinator: Naleway, John Joseph

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.