How cells organize into organized tissues to form organs
Official title: Studying the cellular ecology of organ formation using a novel tissue reconstitution system
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11605949 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how human-like cells in a lab can self-organize within a scaffold to form orderly tissue patterns, which could illuminate how organs such as skin and bones develop.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,017,000 |
| NIH project number | 4DP2DE033856-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11605949 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing study at this time; future applications could inform tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for patients with tissue loss or organ damage.
✕Less likely to help
There may be no direct benefit to current patients during the basic science phase.
What this research studies
This project looks at how groups of fibroblasts in a supportive matrix create repeating, organized structures without a fixed genetic blueprint. By watching how cells move, push, and communicate in a 3D environment, scientists hope to map the physical rules that drive tissue formation. The study uses a novel tissue reconstitution system to observe collective cell behavior and energy use during morphogenesis. Understanding these processes could help translate basic biology into strategies for regenerative medicine and wound healing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide new ways to engineer organized tissues for regenerative therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that physical interactions and cell-ECM dynamics can drive tissue patterning, but the exact cellular ecology mechanisms are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shyer, Amy Elizabeth — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Shyer, Amy Elizabeth
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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.