Both the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Office of Life and Microgravity Science and Applications are soliciting new technologies that could be used to improve existing methods of measuring individuals’ levels of blood glucose, hormone and other physiological analytes without actual blood sampling.

NASA’s goal for long term space travel requires the development of ways to study the physiological effects of microgravity and space flight on its astronauts. NASA has an interest in making routine, frequent measurements of a number of analytes present in blood. Noninvasive methods for biochemical and biophysical measurements would have both operational and crew comfort benefits, especially when trying to take blood samples without contaminating the spacecraft environment. Noninvasive methods would also facilitate more conventional blood chemistry measurements – the same kind of measurements that are performed daily by people with diabetes.

Millions of diabetic Americans, JDF, and other organizations also have a tremendous interest in finding a reliable, cost-effective method of noninvasive blood glucose measurement. Annual sales of current blood glucose meters and strips are estimated at $1.2 to $1.5 billion. Successful noninvasive technology could dramatically expand this already sizable market.

Promising technologies identified through this search will be discussed in a workshop planned for March 1998. This workshop will address current critical technology gaps, define promising areas for research and development, and explore opportunities for public/private partnerships among Federal researchers, biomedical experts, and industry. Research Triangle Institute is supporting the agencies in this technology transfer effort.

The problem statement is available at the Research Triangle Institute website: http://www.rti.org/technology/nasa-jdf

For more information, contact:
Daniel Winfield
Research Triangle Institute
Center for Technology Applications
(919) 541-6431
e-mail: winfield@rti.org