How human brain stem cells and blood vessel cells communicate
Human neural stem cell and endothelial cell reciprocal interactions govern cell function
This work looks at how human brain stem cells and the cells that line blood vessels interact to inform better brain repair for people with neurological injury or disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187089 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers grow human neural stem/progenitor cells and human blood-vessel (endothelial) cells together in a 3D scaffold that mimics the brain to observe their interactions. They compare direct cell-to-cell contact with the effects of substances released by stem cells to see how each influences stem cell identity and vessel formation. The team measures cell markers that indicate a long-lived stem cell state and watches for new vessel growth in the engineered tissue. Findings will pinpoint signals that could be used to improve stem-cell transplants or encourage blood vessel support after brain injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with brain injuries or neurodegenerative conditions are the kinds of patients who could eventually benefit from therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: People without neurological conditions or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to get direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research right now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help improve stem-cell-based brain repair by identifying ways to keep transplanted stem cells functional and promote supportive blood vessel growth.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal studies have shown that blood vessels influence neural stem cells and vice versa, but applying and confirming those findings in human cells and 3D systems is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Flanagan, Lisa a — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Flanagan, Lisa a
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 below.