SMART CAMP Showcases Breakthrough Label-Free CAR T Cell Profiling at Cell & Gene Therapy World Asia 2025

Dr Kerwin Kwek Zeming, Research Scientist at SMART CAMP, recently presented CAMP’s latest work at the Cell & Gene Therapy World Asia 2025 conference, where he shared insights from the team’s research paper on label-free, microfluidic-based biophysical profiling of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR T) cells. 

Through his presentation, Dr Kwek showcased CAMP’s efforts to develop advanced tools for the next generation of cell therapies. “We developed a microfluidic ‘obstacle course’ to measure the biophysical fitness of CAR T cells without any fluorescent labels. By flowing the cells through tiny channels and pillars, we capture how they move and deform, including traits such as cell size and deformability, which serve as unique biophysical signatures of each cell’s activation and health,” Dr Kwek explained.

Introduced at the conference, the Cell Trajectory Modulation (CTM) approach offers a new lens to quantify immune cell activity through their biophysical behaviour. Dr Kwek’s presentation focused on how these biophysical CTM profiles relate to CAR T cell potency and manufacturing conditions — providing insights into critical, yet often obscure information in cell therapy production.

By profiling CAR T cells produced under different manufacturing setups or conditions — such as those grown in different cell culture vessels and bioreactors — the research team demonstrated that CTM features not only varied by method but also correlated strongly with the cells’ functional potency and phenotype. In total, 88 distinct CTM features were identified that tracked closely with established T-cell readouts like the CD4:CD8 ratio and markers of cell fitness. Using principal component analysis (PCA), the team condensed these data into a simple biophysical index that allows direct comparison between CAR T cell batches or donor cells, correlating inversely with potency assays across bioreactor conditions.

“The big takeaway is that a quick, label-free physical measurement can tell us a lot about a CAR T cell’s product quality. This could be extremely useful for manufacturing analytics, enabling real-time monitoring and adaptive manufacturing adjustments, as well as for rapid quality control before releasing a therapy,” Dr Kwek said.

Engaging with Industry Leaders and Exploring Future Collaborations

Dr Kwek also engaged with industry leaders and researchers through panel discussions and networking sessions focused on next-generation cell therapy manufacturing technologies and data-driven cell therapy production. “One particular highlight was participating in conversations about how automation and AI-driven processes — like smart bioreactors — can scale up CAR T cell production without compromising quality. It was inspiring to see that many industry leaders are focused on similar goals: making CAR T cell production more reliable, efficient, and data-driven,” Dr Kwek shared.

He also highlighted the growing collaborative momentum across Asia’s cell and gene therapy ecosystem. From harmonising regional regulatory standards to expanding manufacturing capacity, there was a shared recognition of Asia’s leadership in driving innovation in this field. “Hearing success stories from regional pioneers and seeing the focus on quality and scalability gave me new insights into how our own work fits into the bigger picture. As I return to the lab, I feel energised by the connections made and ideas shared,” he added.

Dr Kwek’s presentation reflects SMART’s ongoing efforts to develop cutting-edge, data-driven solutions that advance cell therapy manufacturing and patient care, further strengthening Singapore’s position as a global hub for biomedical innovation.