Improving airway surgery for children with severe breathing issues
Official title: Laryngotracheal Reconstruction with Engineered Cartilage
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11030771 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new type of cartilage implant to help kids with severe airway narrowing, making surgeries safer and more successful by using a special scaffold that grows their own cells into new cartilage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $563,777 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL161583-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11030771 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who have severe subglottic stenosis requiring surgical intervention.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with airway issues not related to subglottic stenosis or those over the age of 11 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of cartilage implant to improve laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) for children suffering from severe subglottic stenosis, a condition that narrows the airway. The current surgical method often fails due to insufficient autologous cartilage, leading to a high rate of complications. By using a microstructured polymeric scaffold populated with the patient's own cells, the research aims to create a cartilage graft that can be ready for use in a shorter timeframe, enhancing the chances of successful surgery. The approach seeks to overcome the limitations of existing methods that result in hypertrophic and calcified tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve surgical outcomes and quality of life for children with airway obstructions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in tissue engineering for cartilage, but this specific approach is novel and aims to address significant clinical challenges.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gottardi, Riccardo — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Gottardi, Riccardo
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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.