How stem cells and their surroundings decide what tissues they become
Physicochemical control of multilineage emergence
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · NIH-11159404
Researchers will guide patient-derived stem cells with engineered materials and controlled fluid flows so they form more realistic mini-tissues that include multiple body layers.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IRVINE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11159404 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team grows patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in micropatterned dishes and 3D assembloids to recreate interactions between multiple tissue layers. They replace variable materials like Matrigel with defined synthetic extracellular matrices that can be tuned for stiffness and chemical signals. Dynamic microfluidic culture adds fluid flow and mechanical cues while multiple cell types are combined to recreate vasculature, stroma, and embryonic lineages together. The aim is to produce more consistent, patient-specific mini-tissues useful for studying development, disease, and future regenerative therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people willing to donate cells (for example a blood or skin sample) that can be reprogrammed into iPSCs, especially patients with conditions researchers plan to model.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate medical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because this is laboratory research rather than a clinical therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make lab-grown tissues more accurate for modeling disease and developing personalized regenerative treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Organoid and iPSC-based models have shown promise for disease modeling, but combining controlled multi-germ-layer assembly with synthetic matrices and microfluidics is a relatively new and expanding approach.
Where this research is happening
IRVINE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE — IRVINE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SMITH, QUINTON — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- Study coordinator: SMITH, QUINTON
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.