Redbud NA1 transfer to manufacturing

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded Redbud Labs, Inc. $956,224 on July 22, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to transfer REDBUD NA1, an ultra-compact nucleic acid extraction platform, into manufacturing.

REDBUD NA1 is designed for disease surveillance applications requiring qPCR and sequencing of samples from people, livestock, and wildlife. The platform addresses extraction barriers in medium-throughput translational assays, particularly in resource-limited, high-containment, and field-forward environments where manual extraction or large automation equipment are inadequate. Under this commercialization readiness pilot, the recipient will focus on product quality, cost reduction, and production capacity scaling.

Work is performed in Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina, with a period of performance from July 22, 2026, through June 30, 2029. The award type is a Project Grant, with $956,224 obligated.

Abstract

Predicting and containing epidemic disease requires ubiquitous surveillance of people, livestock, and wildlife for emerging strains of disease. The two most powerful tools for this surveillance are qpcr and sequencing, both of which require high-quality nucleic acids (NA) purified from a wide range of biological, environmental, and industrial samples. NA extraction is a major barrier for research groups; today, IT is either performed manually or with large automation equipment, and neither provides the reliable, robust, convenient solution required for these demanding environments. Typically, surveillance applications operate at medium throughput, using translational assays, and often in resource-limited settings such as high-containment or field-forward environments. As part of an ongoing sbir contract, we have developed redbud NA1, an ultra-compact sample prep platform ideally suited to disease surveillance applications. In this commercialization readiness pilot (CRP), we seek funding to transfer redbud NA1 into manufacturing. Our project address issues of product quality, cost, and production capacity.