A Carnegie Mellon University-led team of researchers has secured an award of up to $34.9 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The funds will fast track a bioelectronic implant that could radically improve treatment options and significantly reduce the cost of care for patients with obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
The award will drive the accelerated development and testing of "Rx On-site Generation Using Electronics (ROGUE)," a bioelectrical device that hosts a "living pharmacy," consisting of engineered cells that produce biological therapy to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity. The device will offer continuous, adjustable, and low-cost therapy deployment via a minimally invasive procedure performed in an outpatient clinic. Additionally, in a stark contrast from the traditional delivery of biologics, it will eliminate the need for weekly injections, trips to the pharmacy, and careful storage of expensive medications.
"This project is the peak deployment of several core technologies we have developed and refined over the past five years, as part of the Bioelectric Medicine Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University," said Carnegie Mellon University materials science and bioengineer Tzahi Cohen-Karni, who serves as primary investigator on the ARPA-H award. "Bioelectronic devices offer a myriad of benefits, including adjustable therapy delivery, dynamic monitoring, and reduced biologics healthcare costs. We are leveraging our collective strengths to.