Kismet Technologies was awarded an STTR Phase IIB grant to study further its technology’s efficacy against the highly virulent multidrug-resistant Candida auris. The grant represents $500,000 in funding.
ORLANDO, Fla. (September 19, 2024)—Kismet was one of fewer than five companies in the United States to receive a Small Business Technology Transfer Phase IIB supplemental grant from the National Science Foundation in 2024. The NSF awarded the grant to Kismet to continue research on its antimicrobial technology’s efficacy in eradicating the spread of the highly virulent multi-drug-resistant Candida auris on soft and hard environmental surfaces in healthcare facilities.
The Centers for Disease Control issued a health alert in March 2023 for C. auris, an urgent antimicrobial-resistant threat spreading at an alarming rate in US healthcare facilities. Most state departments of health require immediate notification of colonized patients. Due to its ability to form biofilms, C. auris rapidly spreads and is persistent on surfaces for long periods of time.
“This award is particularly impactful given the severity and high mortality rate of C. auris colonized patients,” says Dr. Christina Drake, co-founder and CEO of Kismet Technologies. “The STTR award process was a very competitive process and a clear indication of the NSF’s confidence in the previous results of our antimicrobial technologies efficacy against C. auris and biofilms.”
The National Science Foundation awards fewer than 10 STTR Phase II grants annually, with only 10% going to female recipients and even fewer companies receiving supplemental grants. The NSF STTR program supports startups and small businesses in creating deep technologies and bringing discoveries out of the lab and into the market.
The Small Business Technology Transfer grant, or STTR grant, is part of America’s Seed Fund, which is focused on helping small businesses research and develop innovative technologies. Most grants are in the Small Business Innovation Research category as they have few restrictions.
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Contact:
Kismet Technologies: Shari Costantini, President, scostantini@kismettechnologies.com
About Kismet Technologies
Kismet Technologies, a certified women-owned business, strives to enhance global health and safety through innovative material technologies. With a mission to create new material technologies that mitigate harmful microbes to improve quality of life, the company is dedicated to delivering solutions that promote healthier, safer lives while minimizing environmental impact.