UVA Orthopedic Surgeon Receives DOD Discovery Award

Congratulations to Drs. Quanjun (Trey) Cui, MD, Nathan Swami, PhD and Abhijit Dighe, PhD for their 2019 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) Discovery Award, titled “Prognostic selection of osteogenic stem cells using label-free microfluidic separation”, by the Department of Defense (DOD) office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The award will provide research fund ($323,000.00) for two years starting on January 1, 2020.

Stem cell therapy for musculoskeletal diseases is promising. However its clinical use is strictly regulated by the clauses described in 21 CFR Part 1271.10 of US FDA guidelines. As per these rules, human cells, tissues, and cellular- and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) must be no more than “minimally manipulated”.

Currently, there are no methods available to purify stem cells for clinical use since FACS-based or magnetic-beads-based purification of stem cells does not meet this guideline. Dr. Cui and his co-investigators will develop a label-free high-throughput microfluidic isolation platform. Based on high throughput label-free separation (~5 mL/min) and online impedance assessment (~1000 cells/s), the selection purity and collection efficiency of osteogenic stem cells of interest can be enhanced to reach the transplantation scales.

Successful completion of this cutting-edge research project will create a roadmap for development of a therapeutic option for musculoskeletal disorders.