Fast single-cell protein test to help guide cancer treatment
Official title: Rapid, Single Cell Proteomic Profiling for Biomarker Development in Precision Oncology
Funded at Aperture Bio, INC. · NIH-11247614 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A company is developing a quick test that reads proteins in individual tumor and immune cells to help doctors pick better treatments for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Aperture Bio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Allston, United States) |
| Project start | May 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $942,272 |
| NIH project number | 4R44CA290912-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247614 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancer who can provide a biopsy or other suitable tissue sample and whose care teams want detailed single-cell protein information would be the best candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without usable tissue samples, those with cancers not amenable to tissue-based testing, or patients for whom the test has not been validated may not benefit.
What this research studies
You could have a tiny biopsy or fragile sample analyzed one cell at a time to show which proteins are present in tumor and immune cells. The project is building a rapid lab platform and companion software that works on common immunofluorescent microscopes while preserving samples. Results would report protein expression, cell states, and immune–tumor co-localization using a validated immune-cell panel and computational reports. The approach is meant to work across different tumor types so it could help many people facing cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could help personalize therapy choices by revealing which cells express drug targets and how immune cells are interacting with a tumor, potentially improving treatment success and avoiding ineffective therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Single-cell protein profiling is an emerging area with promising early research, but this specific rapid, microscope-compatible approach is relatively new and not yet widely adopted clinically.
Where this research is happening
-
Aperture Bio, INC.
Allston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peterson, Hannah Marie — Aperture Bio, INC.
- Study coordinator: Peterson, Hannah Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using advanced imaging to study live cancer cells
This study is looking at how special imaging tools can help us see live cancer cells in action, which could give us better ideas about how tumors react to different treatments, ultimately helping to tailor therapies for patients like you.
-
Developing a new tool for analyzing cancer cells to improve treatment selection
This study is working on a new tool that looks closely at individual cancer cells to help doctors better understand which patients might benefit from the latest cancer treatments, making it easier for more clinics to use.
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.