# High-Throughput Single Cell Mechanomics

> **NIH NIH R21** · SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $200,763

## Abstract

Summary. Phenotypic heterogeneity in cellular bulk populations can result in consequential differences in their
response to physical as well as biochemical stimuli. To assess heterogeneity at single cell resolution, several
methods have been developed, yet true predictability of cells’ future behavior cannot be reliably determined. To
address this challenge, the proposed work will develop a new technological approach to solve the bulk cell
heterogeneity problem coined as ‘single cell mechanomics’. This technology will record compression induced
dynamic signaling response of single cells to predict and/or drive their future behavior. The technological
innovation consists of a ‘smart’ microfluidic device with light actuated microtraps that can capture and compress
single cells, and concurrently assess their signaling response, before releasing and capturing each individual
cells for subsequent downstream monoclonal culture and analysis. To prove feasibility of this technology, human
mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) will be used as a representative mechanoresponsive and highly
heterogeneous cell type. Aim 1 will design and develop ‘smart’ microfluidic devices with light-actuated mictraps,
while Aim 2 will establish a framework to predict and/or drive single cells’ phenotypic outcome based on calcium
oscillation dynamics of mechanically compressed single cells. Multivariate predictive analyses will be used to
identify relationships between compressive stimuli, calcium signaling, and phenotypic outcome. New
relationships derived from this work will be used to identify and sort target cell populations based on their future
phenotypes. At present, there is no demonstration of such a technology in the literature. This aligns with the
high-risk requirements of this R21 solicitation of having significant future impact.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10462589
- **Project number:** 5R21GM141573-02
- **Recipient organization:** SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Pranav Soman
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $200,763
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10462589

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10462589, High-Throughput Single Cell Mechanomics (5R21GM141573-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10462589. Licensed CC0.

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