diff --git a/pephub/routers/api/v1/project.py b/pephub/routers/api/v1/project.py
index 013737f3..13c6ccd1 100644
--- a/pephub/routers/api/v1/project.py
+++ b/pephub/routers/api/v1/project.py
@@ -623,8 +623,8 @@ async def get_subsamples(
         project: example
         namespace: databio
     """
-    subsamples = proj[SUBSAMPLE_RAW_LIST_KEY]
-    if subsamples is not None:
+    subsamples = proj.to_dict(extended=True, orient="records")[SUBSAMPLE_RAW_LIST_KEY]
+    if subsamples:
         try:
             subsamples = pd.DataFrame(
                 proj[SUBSAMPLE_RAW_LIST_KEY][0]