# A novel flexible approach for high-throughput single-cell phenotyping and genotyping

> **NIH NIH R44** · FLEXOMICS LLC · 2024 · $1,009,871

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Single cell genomics has become an essential tool to explore cellular heterogeneity, understand what makes
cells different from each other or in their response to disease and search for cells with valuable therapeutic
properties. Despite tremendous advances in the technologies enabling single cell analysis, combining
sequencing based genomic analysis and more traditional imaging-based cellular assays remains a challenge.
Many projects require to combine several technologies to collect both phenotyping and genotyping information,
making experimental design and execution as well as result interpretation challenging. To overcome these
limitations and allow the direct measurement and correlation of a cell’s phenotype, physiological conditions and
molecular signatures, Flexomics is developing the next generation of cell analysis platform combining imaging
and sequencing-based readouts. Our proprietary platform uses a high-density picowell array specifically
designed for single cell isolation and fluorescent imaging of the captured cells combined with a unique high-
throughput nucleic-acid barcoding system that can be deciphered both by fluorescence microscopy and by
sequencing. This approach allows us to implement gold-standard image-based functional assays to measure
and correlate live cell responses and sequencing data for 100,000s individual cells in parallel. Building on our
promising feasibility result, we propose to demonstrate the flexibility, deployability and commercial potential of
our platform by: (1) demonstrating the ability of our platform to select for cells with specific phenotypes to be
enriched for sequencing analysis, (2) building the required data processing, visualization tools and user interface
combining imaging and sequencing data necessary for the deployment of our platform, (3) generating proof of
concept data at a customer site on complex heterogeneous clinical sample. At the end of this Phase II grant, we
will be ideally positioned to expand our beta testing program to additional customers and engage with strategic
partners and investors to drive the adoption of our platform.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10821192
- **Project number:** 1R44HG013448-01
- **Recipient organization:** FLEXOMICS LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Magali Soumillon
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,009,871
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-02-09 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10821192

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10821192, A novel flexible approach for high-throughput single-cell phenotyping and genotyping (1R44HG013448-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10821192. Licensed CC0.

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