Deep-UV microscopy to judge bone marrow samples in real time
Official title: Deep-UV Microscopy for Real-Time Adequacy Analysis of Bone Marrow Aspirates
Funded at Cellia Science, INC. · NIH-11350924 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A fast, bedside imaging tool uses deep-UV light to decide if a bone marrow sample is adequate during the procedure, helping clinicians get enough material on the first try.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cellia Science, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fayetteville, United States) |
| Project start | June 11, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $927,466 |
| NIH project number | 5R44EB035057-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11350924 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients undergoing bone marrow aspiration for suspected cancers or hematologic conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose samples are difficult to obtain or atypical may not benefit from the automated assessment.
What this research studies
This project develops a point-of-care device that uses label-free deep-UV imaging to assess bone marrow aspirates in real time. It aims to replace slow, stain-based methods with quick, automated machine learning–driven quality checks, so doctors can know immediately whether a sample is adequate. Phase I data from 51 patients showed automated assessment could match or exceed current visual methods, with higher sensitivity and better specificity. The Phase II work will further refine the instrument and ML analysis to enable rapid, on-site adequacy decisions during aspiration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer repeat procedures and faster diagnostic decisions due to real-time confirmation of sample adequacy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work demonstrated high sensitivity and improved specificity with automated deep-UV analysis compared to bedside evaluation.
Where this research is happening
-
Cellia Science, INC.
Fayetteville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Castleman, Amy J — Cellia Science, INC.
- Study coordinator: Castleman, Amy J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving bone marrow aspiration procedures with advanced imaging technology
This study is testing a new tool that uses special light to quickly check if bone marrow samples are good enough for testing, making the process faster and easier for patients getting bone marrow aspirations.
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.