Controllable 3D scaffold to grow more realistic human intestinal tissue
Official title: 4D controllable extracellular matrix properties to guide iPSC-derived intestinal organoid fate and form
Funded at Syracuse University · NIH-11320874 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will change the physical support around lab-grown human intestinal cells so they develop into more mature, realistic gut tissue that could improve how intestinal diseases are studied.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Syracuse University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DK135907-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320874 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with intestinal disorders could be ideal candidates for related future work if they are willing to donate tissue samples or join downstream clinical studies informed by improved organoid models.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new therapies or symptom relief should not expect direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused project right now.
What this research studies
This project uses human iPSC-derived intestinal organoids—miniature gut tissues grown from human cells—to study how the surrounding matrix affects cell development. The team will create "blank-slate" biomaterials that precisely mimic extracellular matrix properties and then change those properties over time and in specific locations. By altering physical features like stiffness and structure as well as local signals, they aim to guide cell fate, maturation, and tissue shape. The goal is to make organoids that better resemble adult human intestine for research and future clinical translation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could produce more mature, human-like intestinal organoids that improve disease modeling, drug testing, and the development of new gut treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Organoid approaches have already improved lab models of the human intestine, but using precisely controllable, time-varying extracellular matrices to drive maturation is a newer and less-tested strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Syracuse University
Syracuse, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blatchley, Michael — Syracuse University
- Study coordinator: Blatchley, Michael
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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.