Cartilage grafts to rebuild narrowed airways in children
Decellularized cartilage and progenitor cells for laryngotracheal reconstruction
This project aims to create cartilage implants seeded with a child’s own cells to help repair severe airway narrowing (subglottic stenosis) in infants and children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262930 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child needs airway reconstruction for severe subglottic stenosis, this project plans to make cartilage implants that surgeons could use sooner than current options. The team will use donor cartilage that has been stripped of cells (decellularized) and repopulate it with the patient’s progenitor cells so the tissue becomes living and patient-matched. They are focusing on a type of cartilage with natural blood vessels and elastin to speed healing and avoid hard, calcified grafts. The goal is to produce a graft strong and flexible enough for surgery within a clinically useful timeframe of weeks rather than many months.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants and children with severe subglottic stenosis who require laryngotracheal reconstruction and can provide cells or tissue during surgical care would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children with mild airway narrowing who do not need reconstruction or those who cannot undergo tissue collection would not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide ready-to-use, patient-matched cartilage grafts that reduce graft failure and the need for repeat airway surgeries in children.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier tissue-engineering efforts have produced functional cartilage but usually take over 24 weeks and often lead to hypertrophy or calcification, so this faster fibro-elastic scaffold approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gottardi, Riccardo — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Gottardi, Riccardo
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 below.