Plexision Gets $365,000 Boost to Enhance Transplant Care With AI-Powered Blood Tests

Plexision, a biotechnology firm specializing in cell-based diagnostics, has secured a $365,000 investment from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to advance its use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in transplant outcome care. The funding aims to enhance the predictive accuracy of Plexision’s blood tests, which analyze immune cell function to identify risks of transplant rejection and post-transplant infections, including EBV-related lymphoma. Transplant medicine has made significant strides, but managing immunosuppressive drugs remains a complex challenge. Insufficient medication can trigger rejection, which may be cell- or antibody-mediated, while excessive dosing increases vulnerability to infections like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and associated lymphomas. Traditional testing methods offer limited insight into immune status, producing reactive, binary results that require clinicians to integrate additional data for treatment decisions. Plexision’s tests leverage a unified platform measuring immune cell function to predict common rejection subtypes and infections. When combined with AI and ML, the system ranks risks for multiple outcomes per patient, such as stable graft function, T-cell-mediated or antibody-mediated rejection, and infection presence or absence. This approach, validated in multi-center studies, will be presented at the 2025 World Transplant Congress in San Francisco. Dr. Rakesh Sindhi, co-founder and chief scientific officer at Plexision, emphasized the company’s focus on transforming transplant diagnostics. “By expanding AI and ML capabilities, we’re shifting from binary ‘yes/no’ answers to ranked predictions tailored to individual patients,” he said. The technology delivers results within 6 to 24 hours, enabling timely interventions. The company’s portfolio includes FDA-approved and lab-developed tests. The Pleximmune™ test predicts rejection in pediatric liver or intestine transplants, while Pleximark™ targets kidney transplant rejection. The recently developed PlexABMR™ test demonstrated 81% positive predictive value and 75% negative predictive value for antibody-mediated rejection in a multi-center trial. Another test, PlexCMV™, is the most sensitive for detecting protective immunity against cytomegalovirus (CMV) in high-risk transplants, and PlexEBV™ identifies EBV infection, a precursor to lymphoma. These tests are conducted at Plexision’s CLIA-approved, CAP-accredited, and GMP-compliant reference laboratory in Pittsburgh. Blood samples are collected from clinical partners, and results are combined with other patient data to optimize transplant care. The company also offers custom R&D services for drug, vaccine, and gene therapy development, integrating cellular biomarkers across all stages. The Richard King Mellon Foundation, established in 1947, is a major funder in Southwestern Pennsylvania, with $2.9 billion in net assets as of 2023. Its grants support initiatives aligned with its 2021–2030 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes healthcare, education, and environmental programs. Plexision’s innovations have shown strong clinical performance, with recent trials highlighting their potential to improve patient outcomes. The company plans to showcase these findings at the World Transplant Congress, underscoring its commitment to advancing personalized transplant medicine through AI-driven diagnostics. For more information, visit www.plexision.com or contact [email protected] to schedule a meeting at the congress.