# Developing a bank of purified myeloid progenitor cells as a bridging therapy for transient pancytopenia resulting from radiation injury

> **NIH NIH R44** · OSSIUM HEALTH, INC. · 2024 · $375,113

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Exposure to even moderate levels (<3 Gy) of ionizing radiation can result in severe
pancyotopenia, placing patients as wells as victims of accidental exposure at high risks for
infection and uncontrolled hemorrhaging. Accidental exposure differs from radiation therapy in
that biodosimetry (e.g., type of radiation, dose and dose rate) is often uncertain; consequently,
the optimal treatment regimen to ameliorate the effects of radiation is not immediately evident.
Therefore, victims of accidental ionizing radiation exposure would benefit from bridging
therapies to traverse extended periods of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia until the optimal
course of medical care can be determined.
Ossium Health proposes to develop a bank of myeloid committed progenitors (MCP) from
deceased donor bone marrow (BM). The strategy employs commercially available GMP-
compliant, closed-system flow separation device to specifically select MCP from whole BM
based on defining cell surface markers CD34+CD38+. The proposed Phase II studies build
on our previously successful Phase I, demonstrating our ability to select highly pure
MCP from whole BM from deceased organ donors. In this phase we will refine selection
and expand the pool of donor BM that can be used. The cells will be validated in vitro
and in vivo in an immunocompromised mouse hematopoietic-acute radiation syndrome
model to demonstrate enhanced survival.
The overall product of this research program will be a compelling preclinical package to justify
definitive studies to support FDA approval under the Animal Rule for a novel radiation/nuclear
mass casualty medical countermeasure bridging therapy. Commercial viability for both medical
countermeasures and civilian uses is enhanced by the up to 5-fold lower cost for manufacturing
compared to current technologies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11006882
- **Project number:** 1R44AI183961-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** OSSIUM HEALTH, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Brian H. Johnstone
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $375,113
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-14 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11006882

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11006882, Developing a bank of purified myeloid progenitor cells as a bridging therapy for transient pancytopenia resulting from radiation injury (1R44AI183961-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-13 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11006882. Licensed CC0.

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