Lab-grown human intestine models with blood vessels, muscle, and nerves
Human iPSC intestine mimetics with integrated mesenchymal, endothelial and enteric nervous tissue
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · NIH-11293394
Making lab-grown human intestinal tissue that includes blood vessels, muscle, and nerves to help people with bowel and nerve-related gut problems.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11293394 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project grows human intestinal tissue from stem cells that develop into multiple types of gut cells, including the lining, muscle, blood vessels, and the enteric nervous system. The team uses special culture methods that let these tissues organize themselves and will try a new suspension culture and transplanting the tissue into animals to improve structure. They will also test how the blood vessel and nerve components work using tiny fluid devices and live assays. The goal is to build more realistic human gut models that can better reflect how diseases affect people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with congenital enteric nervous system disorders (for example, aganglionic megacolon/Hirschsprung disease), severe intestinal motility problems, or other complex gut conditions would be most connected to this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or hoping to enroll in a therapeutic trial will not get direct benefit because this is laboratory-based model development rather than a treatment study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce realistic human gut models that speed up research into bowel disorders and help develop better treatments for conditions involving gut nerves, muscle, or blood flow.
How similar studies have performed: Related intestinal organoid and iPSC-based models exist and have improved understanding of gut biology, but an integrated organoid that spontaneously forms epithelium, muscle, vasculature, and enteric nerves together is novel and less clinically tested.
Where this research is happening
ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR — ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SPENCE, JASON — UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- Study coordinator: SPENCE, JASON
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.