Dry powders of whole blood that stay viable for easy use
Official title: Dry powders of whole blood prepared by thin-film freeze-drying
Funded at Via Therapeutics, LLC · NIH-11407785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new method aims to make dry powders from whole blood that stay alive and ready for quick rehydration, helping military and civilian patients who need transfusions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Via Therapeutics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $315,082 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HL186958-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11407785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients who require rapid transfusion support due to severe bleeding or trauma and in settings where stored whole blood would be advantageous.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without acute transfusion needs or where whole blood is not indicated may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a dry powder version of fresh whole blood that can be stored and transported easily without losing cells. By using thin-film freeze-drying, the project seeks to preserve cell viability so rehydration yields usable whole blood for transfusions. The work will involve testing viability, safety, and practicality in settings where rapid blood replacement is critical, including military medical operations. Outcomes could simplify storage logistics and improve access to compatible blood at point of care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the technology could improve transfusion readiness, especially in field or remote settings, by enabling longer storage and easier transport of viable whole blood.
How similar studies have gone: Previous freeze-drying approaches have limited viability; this project aims to overcome those limitations with a novel process.
Where this research is happening
-
Via Therapeutics, LLC
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cui, Zhengrong — Via Therapeutics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Cui, Zhengrong
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.