Award
NIH Reporter #1R43GM164214-01
Fluorescence-based Lyobead Assay for Rapid Phage Detection in Bioreactor Systems
Recipient
Physical Sciences, Inc.
Award Amount
$311,847.00
Ceiling
$311,847.00
Awarded
August 10, 2026
Identifier
1R43GM164214-01
Development of a rapid fluorescence-based assay to detect phage contamination in bioreactors, improving early detection and preventing production losses in biomanufacturing.
Description
The project aims to develop a rapid phage detection system for early identification of contamination in bacterial fermenters to prevent fermentation failures in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial fermentation, and food production. The system detects phage contamination within hours, preventing bioreactor failures, limiting phage spread, and enhancing biomanufacturing reliability by reducing disruptions and minimizing losses. Phase II will mature the technology and validate it in an industrial bioreactor, and develop a library of fluorescent bacterial strains for standardized reference.