Fort Lauderdale-based Vigilant Biosciences announced Thursday it has received a Small Business Innovation Research grant for more than $200,000 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

The 15-month grant will finance research to develop a diagnostic test that utilizes optical imaging in combination with an oral rinse to detect a tumor-initiating biomarker for oral cancer, the company said.

Vigilant Biosciences, founded in 2011 by Matthew Kim, has developed an oral rinse test for use by dentists for the early detection of oral cancer. Kim was inspired by his family history of oral and other cancers to start the company.

In May, Vigilant Biosciences made its oral rinse test available to dentists in the United States. Earlier that month, Vigilant announced it had received European Commission approval to market its oral cancer test.

The company has raised $12.5 million from investors for commercial development of its product line.

Source: Sun Sentinel