Bioengineering human blood vessels in pig organs for transplantation
Official title: Bioengineering strategies for exogenic organ production
Funded at Northstar Genomics, LLC · NIH-11335714 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach aims to grow human blood vessels inside pigs to create transplant-ready organs for people in need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northstar Genomics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eagan, United States) |
| Project start | May 25, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $269,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R41HL174447-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335714 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with end-stage organ failure who need a donor organ and may benefit from xenotransplantation approaches in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to transplantation or to xenotransplantation advancements may not benefit in the near term.
What this research studies
This project explores methods to produce pig organs with human blood vessels to reduce rejection and increase organ availability. The team will compare somatic cell nuclear transfer and blastocyst complementation with gene-edited embryos to improve vasculature integration. The work uses pig models and human cells to test viability, safety, and practical steps toward sharing organs for people with end-stage heart disease and other conditions. If successful, this could bring more transplant options to patients who currently struggle to find donor organs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially more transplantable organs with lower rejection risk for patients awaiting life-saving transplants.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies have shown proof of concept for vasculature engineering in animal models, but significant hurdles remain before clinical application.
Where this research is happening
-
Northstar Genomics, LLC
Eagan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garry, Daniel J. — Northstar Genomics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Garry, Daniel J.
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.