Rapid, on-site test for Shiga toxin–producing E. coli in irrigation water
Official title: Rapid, On-Site Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli Test in Irrigation Water
Funded at Lynntech, INC. · NIH-11314890 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new on-site device will quickly identify harmful STEC bacteria in irrigation water to help keep fresh produce safe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lynntech, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $306,871 |
| NIH project number | 1R43CK000708-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11314890 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable (this grant tests irrigation water, not people)
✕Less likely to help
Not applicable (no direct patient participation)
What this research studies
If successful, this project will yield an automated point-of-need device that detects and quantifies Shiga toxin–producing E. coli directly where water is collected. The approach focuses on rapid results, reducing the delay of sending samples to laboratories and enabling timely interventions to prevent contaminated produce from reaching consumers. The study emphasizes practicality for real-world farming settings, aiming for inexpensive and easy-to-use testing that fits into existing water-safety workflows. By providing faster, action-ready data, farmers and regulators could respond more quickly to potential contamination events.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could dramatically shorten detection time, helping prevent E. coli outbreaks linked to produce.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods miss STEC strains; this project represents a novel rapid, on-site approach with potential for substantial improvement.
Where this research is happening
-
Lynntech, INC.
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wise, Hua — Lynntech, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wise, Hua
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.