De Novo Synthesis of Collagen-Like Polymers for Biomedical Uses
Official title: De Novo Synthesis of Collagen-Like Polymers for Biomedical Applications
Funded at California State University Long Beach · NIH-11376905 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new method to make large, collagen-like polymers in the lab that could be used for safer, customizable medical materials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Long Beach NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Long Beach, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $150,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM153655-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376905 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to a specific patient population at this stage.
✕Less likely to help
The project itself does not involve patients or direct treatment.
What this research studies
This project aims to create high‑molecular‑weight, collagen‑like polymers starting from simple amino‑acid building blocks, using ring opening polymerization and novel sequencing strategies. It focuses on overcoming reliance on animal collagen by developing synthetic, scalable processes that could yield biocompatible materials for implants and tissue engineering. Researchers plan to explore polymer architectures such as homopolymers, block copolymers, and branched designs, with attention to safety and potential clinical translation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide safer, scalable collagen‑like materials for medical devices and tissue engineering.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts using classical solid‑phase peptide synthesis face scale and translation challenges, making this de novo approach potentially more suitable for clinical use.
Where this research is happening
-
California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Slowinska, Katarzyna — California State University Long Beach
- Study coordinator: Slowinska, Katarzyna
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.