Helping rebuilt tissue grow organized blood vessels
Official title: Manipulation of Host Tissue to Induce a Hierarchical Microvasculature
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11394401 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work develops ways to help people needing reconstructive surgery grow organized, functioning blood vessels in repaired tissues so grafts heal faster and more reliably.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $692,242 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167939-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394401 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who need reconstructive procedures for soft tissue loss—such as from trauma, tumor removal, or nonhealing wounds—would be the eventual candidates for these techniques.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with widespread blood vessel disease, severe bleeding disorders, or those who cannot undergo surgical procedures may not benefit from these methods.
What this research studies
If you need tissue reconstruction after injury, surgery, or chronic wounds, this project aims to speed and organize the growth of blood vessels into implanted scaffolds so the repaired tissue becomes living and functional. The team uses tiny needle perforations in nearby blood vessels to let cells escape and start new vessel growth, combined with specially designed granular hydrogels that guide that growth into tree-like branching networks. Early lab tests showed these tactics can produce blood flow into a scaffold within a day and increase new vessel formation, and the researchers will refine and test the approach further in controlled lab and preclinical experiments. The goal is to create implants that integrate faster and reduce failure of reconstructed soft tissues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make grafts and engineered tissues survive and heal better, reducing complications and repeat surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: Early preclinical work by the team showed faster perfusion and about twice as much new vessel growth using the needle perforation plus granular hydrogel approach, but clinical use remains novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheikhi, Amir — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Sheikhi, Amir
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.