SBIR Phase II: Vertical Perifusion System for Cell Culture and Monitoring

This Phase II SBIR research develops tools to monitor live cells in a model system capable of maintaining the cells over extended periods in near normal conditions. The perfusion chamber allows one to interrogate the metabolic response of cells in real-time in a non-invasive manner. Potentially, this technology could open a number of tissues to examination in further detail for research and as an alternative to live animal testing. The broader impacts of this project include significant advances in the science of cell physiology and behavior, mechanistic pathways of diseases, and improved understanding of cellular signaling, growth and death. Rational design of more effective drugs depends on ever improving fundamental knowledge of cellular mechanisms. Commercially this innovation will lower the cost of drug development, testing and clinical trials, thereby providing broad benefit to the US healthcare industry.