Engineered tissue regulatory T cells as a treatment for stroke
Official title: Development of Tissue Engineered Tregs as a Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Funded at Gentibio, INC. · NIH-11396531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new off-the-shelf cell therapy using engineered regulatory T cells could help people who have an ischemic stroke recover by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Gentibio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,150,749 |
| NIH project number | 5R44NS145848-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have experienced an acute ischemic stroke and meet trial criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-stroke conditions or those who do not meet trial inclusion criteria may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports creating allogeneic EngTregs that are engineered to home to brain injury sites and dampen inflammation after a stroke. The cells are designed to stay stable and suppress harmful immune responses while also producing factors that aid tissue repair. The approach aims to overcome manufacturing and stability challenges seen with traditional cell therapies, with genetic tweaks to boost tissue targeting and durable function. If successful, this could lead to a ready-to-use treatment that benefits stroke patients without requiring personalized cell sourcing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients who have a stroke could benefit from a readily available cell therapy that reduces brain inflammation and supports recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous Treg-based strategies show promise in modulating post-stroke inflammation, but off-the-shelf EngTregs are a novel approach that requires validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Gentibio, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zarin, Payam — Gentibio, INC.
- Study coordinator: Zarin, Payam
Related research
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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.