# Automation and Performance-Based Selection to Improve the Reproducibility of MSCs

> **NIH NIH R44** · CELL X TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · 2020 · $714,546

## Abstract

Project Summary
The purpose of this proposal is to advance the field of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell (MSC) biology and
particularly the process of translating MSCs into safe and effective therapies.
The Broad Aim of this proposal is to demonstrate that the Cell X™ automation platform enables users to
generate culture expanded human “mesenchymal stem/stromal cell” populations (hMSCs) with greater quality
and with less variation from batch-to-batch. Success will open the valued market of MSC generation and
commercial fabrication to Cell X™ Technologies.
The Cell X™ Device is the core product of Cell X Technologies, which was founded in 2017 as a spin-off
company derived from technology generated in the Muschler Lab at the Cleveland Clinic with engineering
support from Parker Hannifin Corporation.
Cell X combines four essential automated features:
1) Rapid large field of view (LFOV) (“Google Earth” whole well) image analysis, enabling the user to
 quantitatively capture and use “performance-based” colony (clone) attributes for cell source selection.
2) Precise automated methods for biopsy, picking or weeding (removal) of colonies with specific attributes.
3) Automated methods for removal and replacement of media during cell expansion (i.e. media change).
4) Consistent and standardized documentation of parameters and images associated with each intervention.
hMSC variation represents a profound point of ongoing “pain point” in the biomedical research community and
in the emerging industry of regenerative medicine and cellular therapies. Clinical use demands high levels of
repeatability and reproducibility. Donor-to-donor and batch-to-batch variation also confounds the utility of
culture expanded MSCs in drug screening, toxicity testing, evaluation of biomaterials, etc.
Demonstration of the value of Cell X™ automation for optimizing MSC generation and fabrication will greatly
advance the value and demand for Cell X™ Platforms for research, drug development and clinical fabrication.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10069435
- **Project number:** 4R44GM133291-02
- **Recipient organization:** CELL X TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Viviane Luangphakdy
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $714,546
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2019-09-12 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10069435

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10069435, Automation and Performance-Based Selection to Improve the Reproducibility of MSCs (4R44GM133291-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10069435. Licensed CC0.

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