Two-tier bioactivity check for water safety
Official title: A Two-Tier Effect-Based Water Bioactivity Surveillance System.
Funded at Attagene, INC. · NIH-11602346 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A fast, two-step test system to flag polluted water and identify problem chemicals so community water sources stay safer for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Attagene, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $50,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R44ES038062-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11602346 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients; focused on water safety and public health more broadly.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient involvement or benefit expected from individuals.
What this research studies
This grant aims to build a high-throughput Bioactivity screening platform that measures how water samples trigger human-relevant gene activity, creating an overall bioactivity score. It uses a FACTORIAL assay to quantify multiple transcription factor responses and flag hotspots for further analysis. Tier II then adds targeted chemical testing to connect bioactivity signals with specific contaminants, helping communities understand and address water risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could speed up detection of harmful water mixtures and guide remediation to keep drinking water safer.
How similar studies have gone: The approach builds on validated EPA ToxCast work and a White House Tibbetts Award-recognized platform, suggesting proven potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Attagene, INC.
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Makarov, Sergei S — Attagene, INC.
- Study coordinator: Makarov, Sergei S
Related research
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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.