New technology for tracking individual cell behavior using DNA barcodes
Official title: DNA-optical barcoding technology for spatiotemporal single-cell analysis
Funded at Lase Innovation INC. · NIH-11251484 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to track and understand how individual cells work in living systems, which could help scientists learn more about diseases and improve lab techniques for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lase Innovation INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 20, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $900,298 |
| NIH project number | 4R44HG013591-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251484 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that involve complex cellular behaviors, such as cancer or other diseases where cell function is critical.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable, non-complex conditions that do not involve significant cellular behavior changes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel cellular barcoding technology that combines live imaging with single-cell sequencing to better understand how individual cells behave in complex biological systems. By using dual-barcoded laser particles, researchers can identify and track cells during imaging and sequencing, allowing for a more accurate analysis of cellular functions. The project will initially demonstrate the feasibility of this technology on a small scale, followed by efforts to scale up and commercialize the approach for broader use in laboratories.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance our understanding of cellular behavior, leading to improved diagnostics and treatments for various diseases, including cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using barcoding technologies for cellular analysis, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Lase Innovation INC.
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kwok, Sheldon J.j. — Lase Innovation INC.
- Study coordinator: Kwok, Sheldon J.j.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
DNA-based optical barcoding for single-cell analysis
A fast-track SBIR project to create a dual-barcoded optical system that links live-cell imaging with single-cell sequencing to study how individual cancer cells behave.
-
Tracking T-cell function over time using advanced flow cytometry
This study is looking at how T-cells, which are important for fighting cancer, behave over time when they are treated in different ways, to help improve cancer treatments like vaccines and cell therapies for patients.
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.