Materials that mimic bone marrow to support blood stem cells
Gradient biomaterials to investigate niche regulation of hematopoiesis
This project uses lab-made materials that copy bone marrow to help blood stem cells grow and stay healthy for people needing bone marrow transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11336324 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building gel-based materials with gradual changes in stiffness and biological signals to mimic different zones of the bone marrow where blood stem cells live. They use tiny microfluidic devices to culture stem cells in these gels and study how physical and chemical cues influence stem cell quiescence, self-renewal, and differentiation. Much of the work uses mouse stem cells to refine the system, with the long-term goal of expanding human stem cells without causing exhaustion. If successful, the platform would guide ways to produce more long-lasting stem cells for transplant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who might benefit include patients who need bone marrow or stem cell transplants for blood cancers or marrow failure, or donors whose cells could be expanded for transplant.
Not a fit: This work is unlikely to help people with non-blood illnesses or those needing immediate treatment, since it focuses on laboratory development rather than an approved therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could make it possible to expand healthy, long-lasting blood stem cells outside the body, improving availability and outcomes of bone marrow transplants.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies have achieved short-term expansion of blood stem cells, but reliably expanding long-term, repopulating stem cells without exhaustion remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harley, Brendan a. — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Harley, Brendan a.
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.