# Traceless, aptamer-based cell isolation for cell therapy applications

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $335,484

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Cell therapies are living drugs that can access a multifaceted biological response and can
therefore potentially provide not only therapeutic but also regenerative outcomes. However, these
beneficial attributes of cell therapeutics are accompanied by significantly more complex, variable,
and costly production logistics. Major advances in biomanufacturing are required for cell therapies
to have broad and widespread use. In this application, we propose to develop aptamer-based
technologies for cell separation that will provide an impactful improvement over current
technology, resulting in superior product at a fraction of the cost. Our main objectives are to 1)
establish a novel SELEX method for membrane proteins and identify new aptamers for cell
isolation applications, 2) develop methods for traceless isolation of monocytes and generation of
macrophage and dendritic cell products for immunotherapy, 3) demonstrate multiplexed selection
and T cell subset selection for CAR T cell immunotherapy applications, and 4) enable efficient
collection and expansion of urine stem cells as a source for regenerative medicine therapies.
Successful completion of these aims will lead to a platform technology for scalable and more
affordable production of CAR T cell immunotherapy, monocyte-based cell therapies and stem cell
treatments.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10844583
- **Project number:** 5R01EB034235-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Suzie H. Pun
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $335,484
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10844583

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10844583, Traceless, aptamer-based cell isolation for cell therapy applications (5R01EB034235-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10844583. Licensed CC0.

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