Automated tools to extract better DNA and RNA from routine biopsy blocks
Official title: Improving extraction success of FFPE samples with automated and reliable microfluidic sample preparation
Funded at Redbud Labs, INC. · NIH-11131120 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds an automated way to pull higher-quality DNA and RNA from routinely stored biopsy blocks so genetic testing can work better for patients with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Redbud Labs, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 16, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,261,092 |
| NIH project number | 5R44GM148126-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131120 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who have had biopsies or surgeries with tissue preserved as FFPE blocks (for example many cancer patients) and who are willing to let their stored tissue be used for lab testing or research.
✕Less likely to help
People without stored FFPE tissue, or whose medical care does not rely on tumor genetic testing, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Many biopsy and surgical samples are stored as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks, but current methods to get DNA and RNA from them are slow and vary by technician skill. The team uses tiny microfluidic modules combined with established chemistry and an automation platform called NAxtract to move fluids between modules without manual steps. In Phase I they showed proof-of-concept for extracting nucleic acids from FFPE, and in Phase II they will fully automate the process and test performance on clinical samples. The project aims to deliver consistent, higher-quality genetic material from routine tissue blocks to improve sequencing results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make genetic tests on stored biopsy tissue more reliable and faster, potentially helping doctors select better treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Other laboratories have improved FFPE extraction methods and the project team demonstrated proof-of-concept in Phase I, but fully automated, clinical-grade workflows are still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Redbud Labs, INC.
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher, Jay Kenneth — Redbud Labs, INC.
- Study coordinator: Fisher, Jay Kenneth
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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.