Cellia Science a biotechnology company advancing rapid, cell-based diagnostic technologies, announced today that it has been awarded a $306,872 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The funding will support development of a novel point-of-care diagnostic for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), a life-threatening infection commonly seen in patients with advanced liver disease. The project will be led by Dr. Amy Powless, principal scientist at Cellia.
SBP is associated with high morbidity and mortality, yet current diagnostic methods rely on laboratory-based testing that can delay treatment. Cellia Science’s innovative approach aims to deliver a rapid, accurate, and easy-to-use diagnostic tool that enables timely bedside decision-making, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
"Our technology is designed to bring the speed and accuracy of the lab directly to the bedside," said Kelly Mabry, CEO of Cellia Science. "Support from NIAID and the NIH SBIR program will enables us to demonstrate how our deep-UV imaging technology coupled with artificial intelligence can transform care for patients with advanced liver disease."The NIH SBIR program is highly competitive and supports early-stage small businesses in developing promising technologies with strong potential for commercialization and public health impact. In collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Cellia Science will use this Phase I funding to demonstrate the feasibility of their diagnostic platform for SBP.
About Cellia Science
Cellia Science is committed to developing innovative diagnostic solutions that transform healthcare. The company was founded in 2021 to address unmet needs in hematology with their label-free deep-UV imaging technology. To learn more, visit celliasci.com
About VIC Tech
VIC Tech is a technology venture development firm that creates innovative new companies with world-changing science- and engineering-based technologies. VIC carefully selects and licenses technologies from universities and research institutions around the world, then partners technology entrepreneurs with VIC’s team of business and technology experts and allocates seed capital through the nationally comprised VIC Investor Network. VIC provides its portfolio companies with senior management expertise, extensive knowledge of technology startups, and proven processes to execute business strategies, including legal, financial, operations, marketing, capital acquisition, and technology management. For more information, please visit victech.com