# hiPSC Cardiomyocyte HTS Electrophysiology System for Detecting Drug Induced Fatal Cardiac Arrhythmias

> **NIH NIH R44** · CARTOX, LLC · 2020 · $586,897

## Abstract

CARTOX SBIR Proposal Abstract
CARTOX will use SBIR funds to develop a reliable, cost-effective high throughput electrophysiology screening
assay system for assessing the impact of compounds on human induced pluripotent stem cell derived
cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) function. The new technology will address the growing need for a human cardiac
system assay to accurately and precisely determine the cardiac safety liability of any drug in development.
Phase I studies established the feasibility of CARTOX’s proprietary 96 well plates that promote the maturation
of hiPSC-CMs for high throughput screening assays to accurately determine proarrhythmia effects of
compounds used for validation of the Comprehensive In Vitro ProArrhythmia Assay (CiPA). CARTOX’s assay
relies on the use of voltage and calcium sensitive dyes and offer many advantages over currently utilized multi
electrode array assays. Phase II studies will further miniaturize the assay to 1) utilize 384-well format plates,
and 2) create a machine for automated electrophysiology assays using hiPSC-CM monolayers and voltage or
calcium sensitive dyes, and 3) develop a novel human stem cell derived extracellular matrix for use in the
MATURA96 assay. Expected products from this SBIR proposal include a) 384 and 96-well plates of
functionally mature hiPSC-CM monolayers, b) an optical mapping system that includes a plate reader, high
speed camera and multi-parameter quantification applications, and c) consumables including multi well plates
containing novel human stem cell derived ECM and reagents, media.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9906226
- **Project number:** 5R44ES027703-03
- **Recipient organization:** CARTOX, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** TODD Joseph HERRON
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $586,897
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9906226

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9906226, hiPSC Cardiomyocyte HTS Electrophysiology System for Detecting Drug Induced Fatal Cardiac Arrhythmias (5R44ES027703-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9906226. Licensed CC0.

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