# Optimization of the UValidate platform to measure genotoxicity associated with current problematic UV chemical blockers

> **NIH NIH R41** · AMELIA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC · 2021 · $51,166

## Abstract

Application ID: 934782 - Optimization of the UValidate platform
Executive Summary:
The overarching goal of our research was to develop the UValidate™ platform, able to measure the
synergistic genotoxic-effect of chemicals particularly when combined with UV-irradiation. In Phase I, the
platform has been used to measure the genotoxicity of combinations of FDA-approved sunscreen
active ingredients. This testing was in response to a growing body of evidence suggesting that
sunscreens (containing a combination of as many as six active ingredients) are leeching into the
bloodstream having serious off-target effects. We report that the Phase I has been extremely
successful and is greater than 90% complete. As of time of supplement submission, all three core-
systems of UValidate™ are functional and validated at the Amelia site, testing of active ingredients and
related chemicals is underway. During development of the core-systems, it became immediately
apparent that the LED UV-DNA damage induction system (LUDIS) had additional commercial merit.
The LUDIS unit is a fully enclosed, incubator compatible, stand-alone LED based UV-irradiation system
that is able to deliver precise and extremely reproducible levels of DNA damage (dimer/ photoproduct
and/or oxidative DNA damage) to mammalian cells in high throughput. Development of the LUDIS
system is a result of technical problems encountered early in the project, specifically that irradiation
using cytometer-based LEDs required hours to days per each 96-well plate making it incompatible with
the high through-put requirement of UValidate™. Consequently, LUDIS was designed to deliver
genotoxic levels of UV (UVA1, UVA2 or UVB) in less than five minutes with the 96-well format allowing
for multiple simultaneous treatment regimes. The potential market for LUDIS goes beyond skin care,
cosmetics and photobiology laboratories. With the ability to induce precise, reproducible amounts of
DNA damage an important aspect in diverse fields including oncology, biomedicine, toxicology,
environmental science and aging research. Currently, researchers are limited to inducing many forms
of DNA damage using toxic chemicals or radiation. Hence, the LUDIS unit addresses core-initiatives of
the NIH and NIEHS regarding increased experimental reproducibility and limiting human exposure to
toxins, while concomitantly reducing the amount of toxic waste created. Further, using LUDIS instead of
chemical induction of DNA damage improves experimental reproducibility by removing the most
common areas of experimental error; calculation of dilutions and concentrations, chemical metabolism,
compound degradation and solubility issues.
To facilitate bringing the LUDIS unit to market we have created an I-CORPS teams that consists of the
PI and CSO, Dr. Peter Sykora. Dr. Sykora is an expert in DNA damage and repair with over 20 years’
experience and more than 25 peer-reviewed publications relating directly to DNA damage in multiple
fields includi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10338776
- **Project number:** 3R41ES032435-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** AMELIA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** DEAN ROSENTHAL
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $51,166
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-05-31 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10338776

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10338776, Optimization of the UValidate platform to measure genotoxicity associated with current problematic UV chemical blockers (3R41ES032435-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10338776. Licensed CC0.

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