WSSU awarded $1.3M grant from National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering to develop biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) has been awarded a $1.3 million Biomedical Engineering, Imaging, and Technology Acceleration (BEITA) Program grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB).

The funding will support the first three years of a new project launching on August 1, 2025. If successful, the program could receive up to $5.4 million more for a second phase lasting four additional years.

This landmark initiative, titled “Accelerating Biosensing Technologies at Winston-Salem State University and Partner Institutions,” unites a dynamic team of 10 investigators across WSSU, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Dillard University and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.

Together, the team will pursue groundbreaking research and education activities that expand innovation, interdisciplinary STEM training and the development of next generation biosensing platforms.

“This award is a testament to WSSU’s growing leadership in biomedical technology innovation,” said the project’s principal investigator, Dr. Jafar Gharavi-Naeini, professor of physics. “Our BEITA Center is committed to building sustainable research capacity, advancing point-of-care diagnostics, and equipping our students and faculty with the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving biomedical landscape.”

The BEITA program will focus on the development of a multimodal biosensor platform capable of simultaneously detecting hormones and hormone-like molecules at physiologically relevant concentrations.

The sensor will use advanced materials, including quantum dots deposited on gold nanostructures, and cutting-edge science to identify multiple health markers at once. This technology would help doctors better diagnose diseases linked to stress and metabolism.

Beyond scientific advancements, the BEITA program will foster rich educational opportunities and workforce development across participating institutions. Through multidisciplinary collaborations, summer outreach initiatives, and hands-on training, the program aims to cultivate the next generation of highly skilled researchers and STEM professionals equipped to meet the growing demands of the biomedical technology sector.

“The innovation and interdisciplinary partnerships cannot be understated. The importance of the research and mentorship programming directly relates to our 2030 Unleash the Genius Strategic Plan and is essential for increasing WSSU’s status as a teaching and research institution,” said WSSU’s Chief Research Officer Dr. Shawn E. Holt.

The WSSU-led BEITA award reflects NIBIB’s commitment to fostering biomedical engineering capacity at historically Black colleges and universities and promoting sustainable institutional transformation in STEM research and education.