The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $274,727 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant to Weka Biosciences LLC, a woman-owned small business located in Santa Fe, NM. This grant, funded through the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084), supports the development of a novel microbial process to create a synthetic sugar polymer designed to improve chiral chromatography, a crucial technique for pharmaceutical manufacturing. The project aims to engineer a stable, high-yield microbial production process for this polymer, which will provide a more reliable and efficient alternative to existing materials used in chiral separation and analysis. This innovation is expected to enhance the precision of drug manufacturing and contribute to the development of safer and more effective medications, aligning with broader public health goals. The grant period runs from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025.
Generated 4/1/25, 4:48 AM