Automated, standardized hydrogel cell encapsulation to support safe cell therapies
Official title: Development of a novel tool that standardizes and automates the formulation of cell-laden hydrogels
Funded at Cellular Vehicles INC. · NIH-11407576 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new automated system helps securely wrap therapeutic cells in injectable hydrogels to improve delivery and survival in diseases like brittle diabetes and heart/brain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cellular Vehicles INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Mateo, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,022,611 |
| NIH project number | 2R44TR005112-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11407576 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with solid-tissue diseases (e.g., Type 1 diabetes, heart failure) who may benefit from hydrogel-encapsulated cell therapies in future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for cell-based therapies or without access to future trials may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant develops the Odyssey System, a closed, automated platform that standardizes how therapeutic cells are mixed with injectable hydrogels, aiming to reduce variability and improve consistency across patients. It builds on a Phase I success to enable high-throughput processing of multiple hydrogel types, with a focus on preserving cell viability and uniform hydrogel encapsulation. The project includes finishing a user-friendly interface and disposable kit, plus a pilot batch produced under manufacture-ready controls for clinical validation. The approach may advance cell therapies for solid tissue diseases by making delivery more reliable and scalable, potentially accelerating translation to the clinic.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more effective cell therapies with better cell survival and consistent treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed that automated systems can improve consistency in cell encapsulation, but this project aims to broaden high-throughput, manufacturable solutions for multiple hydrogels.
Where this research is happening
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Cellular Vehicles INC.
San Mateo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joshi, Nikhil S. — Cellular Vehicles INC.
- Study coordinator: Joshi, Nikhil S.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.