Decoding how developmental signals shape human tissues
Official title: Decoding the Spatial Grammar of Developmental Signaling
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11563748 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientists-led project will study how spatial patterns of signaling molecules guide human stem cells to form tissues, with the goal of enabling better tissue repair and regenerative therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $879,252 |
| NIH project number | 4DP2HD115158-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11563748 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with conditions where replacement tissues could be beneficial and who could participate in future translational steps or related trials once applicable.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not benefit directly until translation into clinical applications occurs.
What this research studies
This project will use human stem cells and advanced light-based tools to create precise patterns of developmental signals in space. Researchers will build a scalable platform that can pattern signals at single-cell resolution in millions of cells, and pair these patterns with the resulting tissue structures. The team will develop new methods to generate and test signaling patterns and create modeling tools to predict outcomes from those patterns. The work aims to translate basic developmental biology into strategies for directing tissue formation in the lab. The overall goal is to pave the way for producing functional replacement tissues for regenerative medicine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable more reliable methods to guide tissue formation for regenerative therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Similar patterning approaches have shown promise in controlled tissue formation, but this project pushes toward higher scale and single-cell precision.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lord, Nathan Dale — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Lord, Nathan Dale
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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.