Project Grant R44AI197850

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded Vivid Bioinnovations, PBC $299,991 on September 1, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to develop a spatially resolved single-cell DNA sequencing platform for spatial genomics with application to HIV reservoir mapping.

The recipient will develop the first commercially viable spatial genomics platform integrating hydrogel-based spatial barcoding, droplet microfluidics, and Bayesian reconstruction algorithms to simultaneously capture DNA, RNA, and protein from individual cells while preserving spatial context. The system is designed to analyze tissue sections containing hundreds of thousands to up to one million cells per run at a cost comparable to existing spatial genomic technologies. The work addresses a critical gap in current spatial genomics platforms, which lack the ability to sequence genomic DNA in situ—a capability with broad applications in cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegeneration research. In Phase 1, the recipient will adapt and integrate proven academic methods into a robust commercial prototype and validate performance using HIV-positive spike-ins and primary specimens. Phase 2 will optimize hardware and software integration for enhanced reproducibility and scalability.

Work is performed in San Francisco, California. The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027.