Generating animal-human chimeric livers for transplantation without immunosuppression
Official title: Generating Exogenic Organs for Transplantation without the Use of Immunosuppression
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11391135 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research grant aims to create human liver tissue inside animals to help patients who need liver transplants without long-term immunosuppressive drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $731,276 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173804-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391135 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with end-stage liver disease who are eligible for transplantation and are facing long wait times.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for organ transplantation or those with conditions not addressed by liver replacement may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores using gene-editing tools to build human liver tissue within an animal host, with the goal of providing transplantable livers or hepatocytes. It builds on stem cell science and CRISPR-based methods to make a compatible organ more readily available. The work is planned at the University of Minnesota and involves international collaboration with experts in developmental biology and transplantation. If successful, it could shorten wait times and reduce immune rejection struggles for patients with alcoholic liver disease and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could access transplant-ready liver tissue more quickly and potentially with fewer complications from immune suppression.
How similar studies have gone: Prior efforts in organ generation and blastocyst complementation have shown promise in mammals, but clinical translation remains early.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Steer, Clifford John — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Steer, Clifford John
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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.