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Development of a novel tool that standardizes and automates the formulation of cell-laden hydrogels

Award Number: R44TR005112
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2028

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Development of a novel tool that standardizes and automates the formulation of cell-laden hydrogels - Project Summary Cell therapies hold immense promise for treating diseases by restoring function or correcting biological defects. While CAR-T therapies have succeeded in hematologic cancers, applying cell therapies to solid tissue diseases like heart failure, Type 1 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease remains limited by challenges in cell delivery—specifically poor viability, low retention, and the lack of reproducible, scalable preparation methods. Injectable hydrogels have emerged as a solution, providing protective, tunable matrices that enhance cell survival and localization. However, current hydrogel-cell formulation techniques are manual, variable, and operator-dependent, leading to inconsistency in clinical outcomes and creating barriers to clinical translation. To address this bottleneck, Cellular Vehicles has developed the Odyssey System—a closed, automated platform that standardizes the preparation and encapsulation of therapeutic cells in injectable hydrogels. Building on the successful outcomes of our Phase I award, this Phase II project will optimize the Odyssey System for high-throughput processing across multiple hydrogel types, finalize a user-friendly interface and disposable kit, and produce a pilot batch of systems under design-for-manufacture controls for clinical validation. The system leverages proprietary microfluidic mixing and inertial focusing technology to gently and consistently encapsulate cells with high viability and hydrogel uniformity, enabling both point-of-care and manufacturing-based deployment. By automating these critical steps, the Odyssey System will enhance the reproducibility, scalability, and accessibility of hydrogel-based cell therapies. Upon successful completion, this project will deliver a clinical- ready version of Odyssey and position it as a foundational tool for regenerative medicine developers and clinical partners seeking to standardize cell-laden hydrogel therapy manufacturing and delivery.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $1,022,611 )
2026	2026	CELLULAR VEHICLES INC	55 E 3RD AVE	SAN MATEO	CA	94401	SAN MATEO	USA	National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences	000	2	6/16/2026	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,022,611
														Subtotal = $1,022,611

Grand Total All Awards = $1,022,611

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Development of a novel tool that standardizes and automates the formulation of cell-laden hydrogels

Award Number: R44TR005112

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2028

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