A team of researchers has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health
A team of Texas Tech University researchers at the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering has received a $587,878 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to develop new technology for blood cell fractionation.
The project, “Fractionation of RBCs via Label-Free Magnetophoresis Using Novel Additive Manufactured Devices”, is led by Jenifer Gomez Pastora, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Co-investigators include Glenn Zeng, assistant professor of chemical engineering; Kai Wu, assistant professor from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering; and James Yang, professor from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The research focuses on using magnetic fields to separate red blood cells in a fast, cost-effective and accurate way. Unlike traditional methods, magnetic fractionation can separate cells based on their hemoglobin and iron content, offering new opportunities for clinical diagnostics, blood banking and transfusion medicine.
“This technology could help extend the shelf life of donated blood and reduce complications for patients who require frequent transfusions,” Gomez said.
The team plans to fabricate magnetic microdevices using hybrid additive manufacturing, a process that combines stereolithography and direct ink writing. The devices will be evaluated for their ability to provide high-throughput and high-purity separation of blood cells.
“Through this project, we will train the next-generation workforce in magnetic materials and devices, preparing students to apply them to real-world medical challenges,” Wu said.
In addition to advancing biomedical research, the project will provide opportunities for undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience. The grant is funded as part of NIH’s Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) program, which aims to strengthen research environments at institutions that train future scientists.