Bioengineered human lung graft to help lung transplant patients
Official title: Translational development and clinical evaluation of a bioengineered human lung graft for clinical transplantation
Funded at Xylyx Bio, INC. · NIH-11408825 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist team is developing a bioengineered lung graft from discarded human lungs to help people waiting for transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Xylyx Bio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,483,340 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL182545-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408825 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with end-stage lung disease who are potential transplant candidates and may qualify for future trials of bioengineered lung grafts.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not eligible for lung transplantation or who are not candidates for experimental grafts may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project is advancing Inspirex Lung, a bioengineered lung graft, to address the shortage of donor lungs. It will gather safety and early effectiveness data to support potential first-in-human transplantation. Work builds on a xenogeneic cross-circulation platform to convert damaged donor lungs into transplant-ready grafts using a porcine bioreactor. The effort aims to move toward IND-enabling studies and eventual clinical testing for patients with end-stage lung disease. If successful, it could expand the pool of lungs available for transplantation and improve outcomes for patients in need.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients in need of lung transplants could have access to more donor lungs and potentially better transplant options.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with bioengineered lung concepts and ex vivo platforms has shown feasibility, but this approach is at an early, IND-enabling stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Xylyx Bio, INC.
Brooklyn, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'neill, John David — Xylyx Bio, INC.
- Study coordinator: O'neill, John David
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.