Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded $210,000 to the University of California, Irvine under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) for an Early-concept grant for exploratory research (EAGER) project running from May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028. The project will develop and deliver an Enzymatic Perturbation Specificity Test (EPST)—a built-in validation mechanism for wearable and point-of-care biosensors that operate in interstitial fluids under the skin. The EPST methodology involves collecting paired measurements before and after enzymatic conversion of target molecules, then computing specificity confidence metrics to verify that sensor signals accurately derive from intended biomarkers rather than interfering substances. The research will integrate EPST with electrically restorable nanoengineered molecularly imprinted polymer (NCMIP) recognition layers and demonstrate applicability across different molecular classes using two stress-related biomarkers: cortisol (a steroid hormone) and neuropeptide Y (a peptide).

The project will produce openly shared protocols, datasets, and analysis tools alongside educational training for graduate and undergraduate students in materials science, microfluidics, biochemistry, and data analysis. By reducing false positives and improving biosensor reliability and affordability, the research aims to support national priorities in health, economic prosperity, and public welfare through advances in personalized health monitoring technologies.