# A multimodal platform for Oral screening of COVID-19

> **NIH NIH R42** · INNOTECH PRECISION MEDICINE, INC · 2021 · $255,999

## Abstract

The development of a rapid and reliable sensor system from readily available oral specimens is crucial for
the screening and management of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Other than tests that require laboratory-scale
instrumentation, the development of rapid tests can play a timely role in the management of an outbreak.
Current rapid tests often involve the antibodies in a lateral flow format to detect viral protein components
and, depending on the implementation, can result in a relatively high degree of error. In partnership with
MIT, InnoTech proposes the development of a multiplexed sensor platform based on nanomaterials capable
of molecular binding and subsequent reporting. We will develop and commercialize a multiplexed sensor
platform using nanomaterial reporters capable of rapid simultaneous detection of multiple components of
viral particles in a field applicable electrochemical device. For our Phase I- Aim 1 we will focus on the
development and optimization of synthetic biosensors for accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins
and nucleic acid. Our milestone is the discovery and validation an array of molecular recognition biosensors
against both protein and nucleic acid segments of SARS-CoV-2. We will complete this phase in 4 months.
In Phase II-Aim 1, we will develop and validate the electrochemical detectors. We will utilize the synthetic
biosensors identified and validated in Aim 1 to an electrochemical platform for the rapid detection of an
active SARS-CoV-2 infection using multiple biomarkers of the infection. We will specifically employ
commercially-available, disposable electrode platforms and existing potentiostats from Metrohm DropSens
to streamline scale-up and commercialization. Our milestone, to be completed in year 1 of Phase II, is to
have a multiplex biosensor chip and an alpha prototype with a multiplex biosensor chip and a potentiostat
reader which we will benchmark for sensitivity and quantitative accuracy against existing COVID-19
diagnostics. In Phase II-Aim 2, we will validate the prototype chips and detectors with retrospective clinical
specimens in preparation for EUA-FDA submission. We will determine the LOD, clinical performance,
and cross-reactivity with other respiratory pathogens and normal flora. The milestone for this Aim is to
document a multiplex of at least two proteins and two nucleic acid biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 that will
provide a LOD of 5-20 viruses per microliter in an oral specimen and will be clinically validated with
greater than 95% concordance with RT-PCR in 30 positive and 30 negative specimens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10266378
- **Project number:** 1R42DE030829-01
- **Recipient organization:** INNOTECH PRECISION MEDICINE, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** ROYA KHOSRAVI-FAR
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $255,999
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-12-21 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10266378

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10266378, A multimodal platform for Oral screening of COVID-19 (1R42DE030829-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10266378. Licensed CC0.

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