Hydrogel-supported oligodendrocyte transplants to repair myelin in demyelinating disease
Official title: Programmable Hydrogels for Optimized Human Oligodendrocyte Transplantation in Demyelinating Disease
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11418199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using an injectable protective gel to help transplanted myelin-making cells survive and restore nerve insulation for people with conditions like multiple sclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $65,403 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS130130-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with multiple sclerosis or other demyelinating disorders who might be candidates for future cell-transplant therapies, especially those with ongoing or progressive demyelination.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-demyelinating neurological conditions, those with advanced irreversible tissue loss, or those who are not eligible for transplantation are unlikely to directly benefit from this work in the near term.
What this research studies
This project will develop injectable, shear-thinning hydrogels designed to protect human oligodendrocyte precursor cells (hOPCs) during the stress of injection and after placement in damaged brain or spinal cord tissue. The team will test multiple hydrogel formulations in the lab and in animal models of demyelination to find the versions that best reduce cell death and local inflammation. The best-performing hydrogel will be used to deliver hOPCs into demyelinated tissue to measure whether it improves cell survival, preserves oligodendrocyte identity, and promotes remyelination. Outcomes will include measures of graft survival, myelin repair, immune activation, and formation of alloantibodies that can lead to rejection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase survival of transplanted cells and improve remyelination, potentially restoring neurological function in people with demyelinating diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies show that biomaterials can improve transplanted cell survival and function, but human glial cell replacement trials have had mixed results and this hydrogel approach remains largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
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State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andreadis, Stelios T. — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Andreadis, Stelios T.
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.