Fast single-cell protein test to help guide cancer treatment

Rapid, Single Cell Proteomic Profiling for Biomarker Development in Precision Oncology

['FUNDING_SBIR_2'] · APERTURE BIO, INC. · NIH-11247614

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

Phase['FUNDING_SBIR_2']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorAPERTURE BIO, INC. (nih funded)
Locations1 site (ALLSTON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11247614 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

ALLSTON, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Cancer Patient

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.