Human cell models showing how sex and hormones affect disease
Bioengineering Microphysiological Models of Sex-Specific Pathophysiology
This project builds lab-grown human tissue models that reflect male and female biology to better understand how sex and hormones influence small blood vessels in the eye and other diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248789 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You can think of this project as making lab-grown human tissues that match male and female biology so experiments reflect real people. Researchers will grow cells from men and women in both flat (2D) and 3D systems and expose them to estrogen and androgens to see how energy use, vessel growth, and gene activity differ. They focus on the tiny blood vessels in the retina and will test how inflammation and new-vessel signals affect male versus female models. The goal is reliable lab models that help scientists test treatments that work better for both sexes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with retinal microvascular conditions (for example, diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration) or individuals willing to donate eye-related tissue or cells for research would be the best candidates to engage with this work.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to benefit directly because this grant funds lab model development rather than a therapy trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these sex-specific lab models could make preclinical testing more predictive and speed development of treatments that work better for men and women.
How similar studies have performed: Related organ-on-chip and microphysiological system work has shown promise, but systematic comparisons of sex and hormone effects in human cell models are largely novel.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mondrinos, Mark — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Mondrinos, Mark
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.