# NGS based metagenomic screening of ocular infections

> **NIH NIH R42** · CHROMOLOGIC, LLC · 2024 · $803,560

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
The project objective is to develop an organism-agnostic deep sequencing-based diagnosis of ocular infectious
disease from microliter-sized biopsies in less than 24 hours and for less than $1000. Current diagnostic
approach relies on bacterial and fungal cultures that are time-consuming (~2-3 days) and often leads to the
overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics. In Phase I, we successfully developed and validated the EYE-Path™
system, demonstrating an integrated Scalable Metagenomics Alignment Research Tool (SMART) with an
automated DNA extraction system for sample preparation. This system achieved a low limit of detection (104
cells/mL) and a turnaround time of <3 hours for bacterial infections.
In Phase II, we plan to optimize the adaptive sequencing software for the SMART Adapt algorithm, validate the
system in a multi-site clinical study (University of California, Los Angeles and University of Washington) in
patients with corneal ulcer and suspected endophthalmitis, validate the system as a CLIA ready test and
initiate a pre-submission meeting with the FDA to determine the appropriate regulatory strategy for eye-PATH
to be considered as a CLIA waived in vitro-diagnostic device. The success completion of this project could
significantly impact ocular infection diagnosis and treatment planning, with broader applications in point-of-care
devices and non-ophthalmic diagnostics, helping to combat antimicrobial resistance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11008714
- **Project number:** 2R42EY033266-02
- **Recipient organization:** CHROMOLOGIC, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Espoir Kyubwa
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $803,560
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2022-06-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11008714

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11008714, NGS based metagenomic screening of ocular infections (2R42EY033266-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11008714. Licensed CC0.

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