# An Integrated Fluorescent Biosensor, Imaging, and Analysis Toolkit for Islet Biologics

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2020 · $403,750

## Abstract

Abstract
The objective of this 4-year R01 project is to develop an innovative and comprehensive toolkit, including a
collection of fluorescent protein (FP) based biosensors, a microfluidic Islet-On-a-Chip, a smartphone
fluorescence microscope, and an imaging analysis application, optimized for the potency evaluation of human
islets as cell-based therapy in Type 1 diabetes (T1D), as well as for characterization of the phenotype and
physiology of emerging new biologics for future T1D treatment.
 We propose to use genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to evaluate key physiological parameters of β-
cells and islets, and furthermore, to define the potency, phenotype, and physiology of various promising biologics
for T1D cell replacement therapy. Leveraging the complementary expertise of our strong team and our extensive
preliminary results, we will pursue the following two Specific Aims:
1. Develop and optimize fluorescent biosensors to monitor key physiological processes in β-cells and islets.
 2. Integrate biosensors with microfluidic arrays, a smartphone fluorescence microscope, a customized
imaging analysis application for standardized, high-content characterization of islet biologics.
 The outcome of this project will be an economic and integrated system for convenient and reliable
characterization of human islets, xenogeneic islets, encapsulated islets, and stem-cell-derived β-cells. These in
vitro assays, which innovatively evaluate several key physiological parameters of β-cells and islets, can not only
be used for standardization and quality control, but also be important screening tools to improve the generation,
storage, and transport of next-generation biologics. Our proposed work will generate significant impacts on
development of current and future cell replacement therapy for diabetes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10067945
- **Project number:** 1R01DK122253-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Huiwang Ai
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $403,750
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10067945

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10067945, An Integrated Fluorescent Biosensor, Imaging, and Analysis Toolkit for Islet Biologics (1R01DK122253-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10067945. Licensed CC0.

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