Controlling cellular fate with tiny robots to shape tissue patterns
Official title: Controlling Cellular Fate using Micromachines
Funded at University of Delaware · NIH-11393594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A team at the University of Delaware wants to use tiny robotic helpers to guide how cells in a culture form patterns and tissues, with potential implications for cancer biology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 28, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147451-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly, as this is an in vitro, foundational biology project.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient involvement is anticipated in this basic science study.
What this research studies
This project explores how computer-controlled microrobots can interact with living cells to create precise, time- and space-specific cell fate outcomes. By using a closed-loop cyber-bio system, the approach aims to reduce randomness in how cells respond to signals and to form organized cellular structures in vitro. The goal is to move beyond static patterns and toward dynamic control of tissue-like arrangements, which could deepen our understanding of cell communication in cancers. The work blends engineering with biology to test whether physical guidance can steer cell behavior in a predictable way.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve models of cancer biology and inform strategies to control tissue formation and cell behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods relied on global stimuli or static patterns; this project proposes a novel interactive system that could offer more precise control, with early-stage results needed to establish feasibility.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Delaware
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Das, Sambeeta — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Das, Sambeeta
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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.