GenEndeavor awarded second phase of prestigious NIH Grant

GenEndeavor announced that it has received Phase 2 of the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award focused on Covid-19 and infectious disease research. The important award will be used to accelerate GenEndeavor’s development of a handheld air monitoring system for the detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in real-time.

According to the CDC, in the post-pandemic era, rapid testing for airborne viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 continues to be critical in identifying and isolating infected individuals and preventing widespread viral outbreaks. Importantly, the likelihood of new airborne diseases continues to be a threat to the health and wellness of communities.

Real-time air monitoring system detection
GenEndeavor’s testing chamber is designed to detect several different SARS-CoV-2 variants in under five minutes. The innovative platform uses air-sampling probes with a max velocity of ~700 cubic feet per minute and a bead-based assay system which allows simultaneous monitoring, detection, and quantification of different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Sampling can be done with a portable device vs a lab for effective and efficient application.

A real-time air monitoring system is a powerful tool in managing the risk of infection anywhere – and particularly in highly populated locations such as schools, office buildings, public transportation, concert halls and places of worship.

“Rapid, real-time air monitoring can save lives and reduce disease by detecting airborne pathogens before individuals and communities become exposed,” said Dr Ricardo Mancebo, Founder and CEO of GenEndeavor. “This has been a core mission of GenEndeavor, and we are so grateful to the NIH for awarding us this second phase of this prestigious grant so we can bring our innovative detection system to market and combat the spread of airborne diseases now and in the future.”

The NIH Director’s transformative research award
The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award is part of the Common Fund’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program, which was created to accelerate the pace of scientific discoveries by supporting exceptionally creative scientists with innovative ideas with grant awards. The Transformative Research Award, one of the four NIH Director’s award programs, was established in 2009 to support scientists who are pursuing inherently risky innovative research projects that are transformative and have the potential to establish new paradigms and make a broad impact in biomedical, behavioral, or social sciences within the NIH mission.
MB Bureau