About the
Project
SMARTER is an EU-funded project developing a smart manufacturing platform for personalised cell therapies.
By using analytical technology and smart control systems, SMARTER’s platform will monitor and control the production process in real-time, allowing to reduce production time, increase cost-efficiency and improve the quality of therapies.
Autologous cell therapies
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with 1.2 million predicted deaths in Europe alone during 2023.
Autologous cell therapies – therapies that use the patient’s own cells to heal or treat a specific condition – have transformed cancer treatment, significantly improving survival rates for blood cancers.
However, these therapies still face challenges when used to treat solid tumours such as melanoma or lung cancer as they are inefficient, costly, difficult to scale and prone to failure.
SMARTER’s platform aims to overcome these challenges by developing a faster, more efficient, and scalable manufacturing process for personalised cell therapies.



Our ambition
SMARTER aims to make autologous cell therapies more accessible and effective, especially for hard-to-treat cancers like lung cancer and melanoma. The platform focuses on improving three key aspects of manufacturing:
- Efficiency – Shorten therapy creation time and reduce costs of production.
- Quality – Ensure high standards and consistency, reducing the risk of failures.
- Scalability – Develop a flexible system to meet varying clinical demands.
The SMARTER platform will innovate by:
- Discovering novel T cell expansion process biomarkers
- Developing analytical sensor and biomonitoring technologies
- Developing smart process control systems
By 2025, SMARTER aims to present the first proof of concept (prototype) that can be further developed for large-scale commercial use.
Our approach
The project brings together an interdisciplinary team that has divided their work into 8 modules, called ‘Work Packages’ (WPs), each focusing on a distinct area of work.
-
WP1: Samples Generation and Establishment
of Scale Down Manufacturing Model -
WP2: Identification of Biomarkers for
Process Monitoring - WP3: Raman Spectroscopy Sensor Development
- WP4: 2D-Fluorescence Sensor Development
- WP5: Proof of Concept for Advanced Process Control
- WP6: Project Management
- WP7: Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation
- WP8: Portfolio Activities
WP1: Samples Generation and Establishment of Scale Down Manufacturing Model
This work package is responsible for producing and testing cell banks of T cells of healthy donors and immature dendritic cells (a special type of immune cell found in tissues). These cell banks are crucial for generating samples that help identify important biomarkers (naturally occurring molecules that signal cell processes) in WP2. This work package is also developing a scaled-down model of the manufacturing process for T cells, which will replicate the full-scale operations but on a smaller, more manageable scale. This model will allow the project to conduct detailed experiments and optimize the process conditions before scaling up.
Lead Partner: Achilles Therapeutics (ATX).
WP2: Identification of Biomarkers for Process Monitoring
This work package is responsible for identifying and validating metabolite biomarkers to monitor T cell growth during production. Using advanced metabolomics methods, we are analysing metabolites—small molecules involved in cell metabolism—to find reliable biomarkers that indicate the health and growth rate of the T cells. These biomarkers will help ensure precise and effective control over the cell therapy production process.
Lead Partner: Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria La Fe de Valencia (HULAFE).
WP3: Raman Spectroscopy Sensor Development
This work package focus on developing advanced sensors that use Raman spectroscopy to monitor the T cell production process in real-time (as the processes occur). Raman spectroscopy is a technique that uses light to measure molecular vibrations, providing detailed information about the cell environment. These sensors will help capture crucial data, which we will analyse to improve our ability to control and optimize the cell manufacturing process. This innovation will significantly enhance the reliability and efficiency of cell therapy production.
Lead Partner: Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC).
WP4: 2D-Fluorescence Sensor Development
This work package is responsible for developing another set of sensors that use 2D fluorescence to monitor T cell growth. Fluorescence is a type of light emitted by certain substances when they absorb light. These sensors will provide real-time data on cell health and growth by capturing and analysing these fluorescence signals. By supporting these sensors with mathematical models (chemometric models) to analyse and interpret data, we will integrate them into the manufacturing process to monitor and adjust the process as it happens.
Lead Partner: Leibniz University Hannover (LUH).
WP5: Proof of Concept for Advanced Process Control
This work package will integrate the sensor technologies and chemometric models developed into a bioreactor system – a device that simulates the biologically active environment of T-cells and supports their growth. WP5 will create and test advanced process control (APC) models that use real-time data from the sensors to optimize the manufacturing process. By testing these models with patient-derived cell material, we aim to demonstrate that APC can significantly improve the consistency, efficiency, and quality of autologous cell therapy production at full scale.
Lead Partner: Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC).
WP6: Project Management
This work package is responsible for overseeing the overall coordination and administration of the SMARTER project. Key activities include planning and monitoring the project’s progress, managing financial resources, ensuring compliance with ethical standards, and facilitating internal communication among all partners. Regular progress meetings and reporting will ensure that the project stays on track and that any issues are promptly addressed. Effective project management is essential for achieving the project’s ambitious goals within the allocated timeframe and budget.
Lead Partner: Achilles Therapeutics (ATX).
WP7: Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation
This work package focuses its efforts on maximizing SMARTER’s impact by educating our audiences on the project’s innovations to autologous cell therapy manufacturing and its progress. WP7 is responsible for educating and promoting the project towards different stakeholders using various communication platforms. This work package is also responsible for the project’s exploitation plan which will allow the project’s innovations to be adopted by the industry and translated into real world application.
Lead Partner: Achilles Therapeutics (ATX).
WP8: Portfolio Activities
This work package is responsible for the strategic development of the project’s portfolio to ensure its successful commercialization. Activities include engaging with regulatory bodies to navigate the approval process, attracting investment to support scale-up activities, and developing strategic plans for the project’s innovations. Regular reports will provide updates on the progress and strategic direction of these activities. By focusing on commercialization, we aim to bring the SMARTER project’s cutting-edge technologies to the market, benefiting patients and advancing the field of cell therapy.
Lead Partner: Achilles Therapeutics (ATX).
-
WP1: Samples Generation and
Establishment of Scale Down
Manufacturing Model -
WP2: Identification of Biomarkers for
Process Monitoring -
WP3: Raman Spectroscopy
Sensor Development -
WP4: 2D-Fluorescence
Sensor Development -
WP5: Proof of Concept for
Advanced Process Control -
WP6: Project Management
-
WP7: Communication, Dissemination,
and Exploitation -
WP8: Portfolio Activities
WP1: Samples Generation and Establishment of Scale Down Manufacturing Model
This work package is responsible for producing and testing cell banks of T cells of healthy donors and immature dendritic cells (a special type of immune cell found in tissues). These cell banks are crucial for generating samples that help identify important biomarkers (naturally occurring molecules that signal cell processes) in WP2. This work package is also developing a scaled-down model of the manufacturing process for T cells, which will replicate the full-scale operations but on a smaller, more manageable scale. This model will allow the project to conduct detailed experiments and optimize the process conditions before scaling up.
Lead Partner: Achilles Therapeutics (ATX).
WP2: Identification of Biomarkers for Process Monitoring
This work package is responsible for identifying and validating metabolite biomarkers to monitor T cell growth during production. Using advanced metabolomics methods, we are analysing metabolites—small molecules involved in cell metabolism—to find reliable biomarkers that indicate the health and growth rate of the T cells. These biomarkers will help ensure precise and effective control over the cell therapy production process.
Lead Partner: Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria La Fe de Valencia (HULAFE).
WP3: Raman Spectroscopy Sensor Development
This work package focus on developing advanced sensors that use Raman spectroscopy to monitor the T cell production process in real-time (as the processes occur). Raman spectroscopy is a technique that uses light to measure molecular vibrations, providing detailed information about the cell environment. These sensors will help capture crucial data, which we will analyse to improve our ability to control and optimize the cell manufacturing process. This innovation will significantly enhance the reliability and efficiency of cell therapy production.
Lead Partner: Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC).
WP4: 2D-Fluorescence Sensor Development
This work package is responsible for developing another set of sensors that use 2D fluorescence to monitor T cell growth. Fluorescence is a type of light emitted by certain substances when they absorb light. These sensors will provide real-time data on cell health and growth by capturing and analysing these fluorescence signals. By supporting these sensors with mathematical models (chemometric models) to analyse and interpret data, we will integrate them into the manufacturing process to monitor and adjust the process as it happens.
Lead Partner: Leibniz University Hannover (LUH).
WP5: Proof of Concept for Advanced Process Control
This work package will integrate the sensor technologies and chemometric models developed into a bioreactor system – a device that simulates the biologically active environment of T-cells and supports their growth. WP5 will create and test advanced process control (APC) models that use real-time data from the sensors to optimize the manufacturing process. By testing these models with patient-derived cell material, we aim to demonstrate that APC can significantly improve the consistency, efficiency, and quality of autologous cell therapy production at full scale.
Lead Partner: Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC).
WP6: Project Management
This work package is responsible for overseeing the overall coordination and administration of the SMARTER project. Key activities include planning and monitoring the project’s progress, managing financial resources, ensuring compliance with ethical standards, and facilitating internal communication among all partners. Regular progress meetings and reporting will ensure that the project stays on track and that any issues are promptly addressed. Effective project management is essential for achieving the project’s ambitious goals within the allocated timeframe and budget.
Lead Partner: Achilles Therapeutics (ATX).
WP7: Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation
This work package focuses its efforts on maximizing SMARTER’s impact by educating our audiences on the project’s innovations to autologous cell therapy manufacturing and its progress. WP7 is responsible for educating and promoting the project towards different stakeholders using various communication platforms. This work package is also responsible for the project’s exploitation plan which will allow the project’s innovations to be adopted by the industry and translated into real world application.
Lead Partner: Achilles Therapeutics (ATX).
WP8: Portfolio Activities
This work package is responsible for the strategic development of the project’s portfolio to ensure its successful commercialization. Activities include engaging with regulatory bodies to navigate the approval process, attracting investment to support scale-up activities, and developing strategic plans for the project’s innovations. Regular reports will provide updates on the progress and strategic direction of these activities. By focusing on commercialization, we aim to bring the SMARTER project’s cutting-edge technologies to the market, benefiting patients and advancing the field of cell therapy.
Lead Partner: Achilles Therapeutics (ATX).