Exploring bat stem cells to understand their unique biology
Official title: Bat pluripotent stem cells as a novel experimental system
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10906740 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at special cells from bats to learn more about how they stay healthy and fight off diseases, which could help us understand their unique abilities better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $211,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI169516-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906740 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals interested in the biological mechanisms of immunity and metabolism, particularly in relation to zoonotic diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to immune response or metabolic disorders may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from bats, aiming to understand their unique biological characteristics. The team has already created the first bat iPSCs and found that they exhibit distinct metabolic and immune responses. By using CRISPR technology, the researchers plan to modify specific genes in these cells to further explore their immune responses and metabolic pathways. This work could provide insights into bat physiology and their remarkable resilience to diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to breakthroughs in understanding immune responses and metabolic processes that may benefit human health.
How similar studies have gone: While research on bat biology is limited, the use of iPSCs and CRISPR technology has shown promise in other animal models, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zwaka, Thomas P. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Zwaka, Thomas P.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving Breast Cancer Guideline Adherence in Nigeria
Aimed at helping doctors in Nigeria follow international guideline-based breast cancer care to improve outcomes for women with breast cancer.
-
Genetically Validated PCOS Subtypes for Better Diagnosis and Risk Stratification
Aimed at women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), this project uses genetic data and patient characteristics to define distinct PCOS subtypes and improve how we diagnose and estimate risk.
-
Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
A study tests a brain-quieting system that uses light to precisely time certain brain cells in epilepsy-prone mice to see if this can lessen seizures and improve memory.
-
Understanding why some brain regions and cells accumulate tau in Alzheimer’s and related diseases
Researchers are studying why certain brain areas and neuron types accumulate tau protein in Alzheimer’s and related conditions, and how this leads to brain changes and symptoms.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
-
Aging and brain injury connection: learning how late-life TBI relates to Alzheimer’s and related dementias
This grant looks at whether traumatic brain injuries in people 65 and older are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, using a large, harmonized set of long-term aging studies.
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.