Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Deep-UV Microscopy for Real-Time Adequacy Analysis of Bone Marrow Aspirates

Award Number: R44EB035057
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/11/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Deep-UV Microscopy for Real-Time Adequacy Analysis of Bone Marrow Aspirates - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Cellia will improve the quality and reliability of bone marrow aspiration procedures by developing a point-of-care instrument for rapid, non-destructive sample adequacy assessment. Our approach is based on a recently developed label-free, deep-ultraviolet (UV) technique for cell imaging and analysis. Spicules, which indicate sample adequacy, are easily identifiable in unstained, pseudocolorized UV images due to the spicules’ strong light attenuation at 255 nm. The resulting deep-UV images can be generated in a fraction of a second and whole slide imaging can be done in a few minutes, making the technique suitable for real-time use during aspiration procedures. The deep-UV images are also nearly identical to the clinical standard Giemsa-stained slides, which take over 45 min to process. Label-free, deep-UV imaging can be combined with machine learning (ML) techniques for feature extraction and classification for automated quality assessment of aspirate smears in real time without a pathology technician. Phase I work, using data from N=51 patients, met or exceeded all milestones. This study demonstrated spicule adequacy assessment via visual assessment by a bedside pathology technician (current state of the art at tertiary hospitals) achieved 87.2% sensitivity (SE) and 67% specificity (SP), while automated assessment using deep-UV microscopy had improved SE (100%) and SP (80%). The specific aims of this Phase II proposal are to: (1) Transition instrument control to a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and optimize optical, electrical, and mechanical hardware; (2) Develop production-ready software components including a user interface and ML training and inference; and (3) Integrate instrument hardware and software and evaluate effectiveness of automated adequacy assessment on clinical samples. Completion of these aims will result in a commercial-grade device with demonstrated safety and effectiveness. Upon completion of this project, a limited battery of additional tests, primarily focused on reproducibility and process validation, will fulfill the remaining testing requirements for to receive FDA clearance.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $1,074,143 )
2025	2025	CELLIA SCIENCE, INC.	535 W RESEARCH CENTER BLVD STE 135	FAYETTEVILLE	AR	72701	WASHINGTON	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	2	6/11/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,074,143
														Subtotal = $1,074,143

Grand Total All Awards = $1,074,143

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Deep-UV Microscopy for Real-Time Adequacy Analysis of Bone Marrow Aspirates

Award Number: R44EB035057

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/11/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer