Federal Grant Award Summary

Iowa State University of Science and Technology received a $283,492 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry (CFDA 47.049, Mathematical and Physical Sciences) awarded August 1, 2026, with completion scheduled for July 31, 2029. The award supports collaborative research and instrument development for a modular continuous-flow synthesis platform to produce hyperpolarized biomolecules for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The primary deliverable is a three-module parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) system integrating continuous-flow hydrogenation of carbon-13–labeled precursors, spin-order transfer mechanisms for hyperpolarized signal generation, and membrane-based extraction into aqueous media. The research evaluates both homogeneous catalysts and heterogeneous systems, including metal-organic framework-confined complexes and silica-encapsulated intermetallic nanoparticles.

The technology developed through this grant will overcome limitations of existing batch hyperpolarization approaches, enabling on-demand production of hyperpolarized biomolecules with enhanced detection sensitivity for NMR and magnetic resonance imaging applications. The innovation has potential clinical applications in early disease detection and metabolic monitoring for conditions such as cancer, as well as broader biotechnology applications in metabolic imaging, biochemical analysis, and real-time cellular process monitoring. The project incorporates workforce development through interdisciplinary training of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students in science and engineering disciplines, performed at the Ames, Iowa facility.