Applied Cells, Inc is excited to announce three recipients of the CellQuest Grant, a new program established to support advances in multiple myeloma research and treatment. Each recipient will benefit from a six-month placement of Applied Cells’ MARS® Bar cell separation platform, along with reagents and consumables, training, and ongoing assistance from a dedicated application scientist.

Dr Doriana Gramegna – coordinator of the Multiple Myeloma Translational Research Unit at Istituto Tumori Giovanni Paolo II in Bari, Italy – will use access to the MARS Bar to launch a project Deciphering the myeloma microenvironment for personalized bispecific antibody therapy. The study aims to address current treatment challenges through decoding the tumor microenvironment and presenting a personalized interpretation of transcriptomic data. The project has the potential to unveil new molecular targets for therapy, reshaping precision medicine for multiple myeloma.

The CellQuest Grant awarded to Dr Sabina Ševčíková from the Babak Myeloma Group at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, will allow her team to commence their project on Unravelling molecular markers in multiple myeloma relapse. This study will investigate the molecular mechanisms driving multiple myeloma relapse, focusing on non-coding RNA molecules and the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, with the aim of informing the development of targeted clinical strategies, improving patient outcomes and enhancing the quality of life of those living with multiple myeloma.

Dr Vanessa Desantis at the University of Bari in Italy will use the grant to run a project entitled Optimizing the crosstalk between the immune microenvironment and multiple myeloma. This will explore the intricate relationship between the immune microenvironment and multiple myeloma plasma cells to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind disease progression and drug resistance. Dr Desantis and her colleagues envision that the results will help to pave the way towards personalized treatments that will ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Liping Yu, PhD, VP of Applications at Applied Cells, commented: “We are very pleased to be able to support these pioneering investigations and play a role in accelerating knowledge of multiple myeloma with our unique technology and expertise. We’re hopeful that, through the CellQuest Grant, we can work together with these trailblazing research groups to improve therapies for multiple myeloma and enhance patient outcomes in the near future.”

Find out more about the MARS Bar cell separation platform.

About Applied Cells

Founded in Silicon Valley, Applied Cells is supporting industry experts across the globe in target cell isolation, cell therapy development and tumor detection. The company’s MARS® Platform offers end-to-end sample preparation solutions for efficient small to large scale cell isolation, including unique solutions for the isolation of plasma cells (CD138+) and stem cells (CD34+), empowering researchers to uncover new insights in multiple myeloma and stem cell research. This streamlined approach saves valuable time by eliminating time-consuming pre-processing steps. Supporting various sample types – including peripheral blood, cord blood, and bone marrow – Applied Cells provides reagents designed to enhance the isolation process, simplifying experimental procedures and increasing overall efficiency.