Creating engineered hydrogels to improve salivary gland organoids for treating dry mouth
Official title: Engineered Viscoelastic Hydrogels for Optimized Generation and Transplantation of Human iPSC-Derived Salivary Gland Organoids to Treat Hyposalivation
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-10949636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on creating safer and better lab-grown salivary gland tissues to help improve treatments for people with dry mouth caused by conditions like autoimmune diseases or birth defects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $115,992 |
| NIH project number | 1K99DE034072-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10949636 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing hyposalivation due to conditions like Sjögren's syndrome or other autoimmune diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal salivary function or those whose dry mouth is caused by medications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing engineered viscoelastic hydrogels to enhance the generation and transplantation of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived salivary gland organoids. By addressing the limitations of current organoid derivation methods, which often rely on tumorigenic materials, the project aims to create safer and more effective organoids that can mimic natural salivary gland function. The approach involves understanding the complex interactions between cells and their environment to ensure the organoids have the proper architecture and functionality. Patients may benefit from improved treatments for conditions that cause dry mouth, such as autoimmune diseases or congenital defects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative therapies for patients suffering from dry mouth, significantly improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using engineered hydrogels for organoid development is relatively novel, similar strategies in other tissue engineering fields have shown promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohamed, Mohamed Alaa Eldein — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Mohamed, Mohamed Alaa Eldein
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.