Mechanical cues to boost stem cell therapy for graft-versus-host disease

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) might quiet overactive immune systems, which could help treat graft-versus-host disease. This project looks at how the physical environment around MSCs—specifically how stiff and viscoelastic the surroundings are—affects their ability to suppress immune responses. By tuning these mechanical cues in the lab, scientists aim to produce MSCs with stronger therapeutic effects before they are used in patients. The study uses advanced hydrogel systems to mimic tissue mechanics and to identify production conditions that maximize MSC potency. If successful, this approach could lead to more reliable MSC-based therapies for GVHD patients.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Johns Hopkins University
  Baltimore, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Gu, Luo — Johns Hopkins University
• Study coordinator: Gu, Luo

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Targeting early oral GVHD to improve mouth health after stem cell transplant

  A study at UW–Madison will explore why some transplant patients develop painful oral GVHD and test ideas to prevent and lessen mouth-related problems.

  NIH research University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, United States · NIH-11616478

• Microbiome-based therapy for treatment-refractory GVHD after stem cell transplant

  A microbiome-based therapy is being developed to help people who have graft-versus-host disease that doesn’t respond to standard treatments after a stem cell transplant.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11425530

• Role of altered mitochondria in preventing GVHD after stem cell transplant

  This NIH grant explores how damaged mitochondria released during pre-transplant conditioning may trigger graft-versus-host disease and tests ways to fix mitochondrial dynamics to prevent GVHD.

  NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11378688

• Fecal transplant plus fiber to treat graft-versus-host disease after blood stem cell transplant

  A study to see if giving fecal transplant along with dietary fiber helps gut health and reduces complications in patients who have received a stem cell transplant and developed graft-versus-host disease.

  NIH research Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · Seattle, United States · NIH-11377663

• Using medium-chain fatty acids and a fat-sensing receptor to treat chronic graft-versus-host disease

  This project looks at whether changing medium‑chain fatty acids or blocking a fat sensor called GPR84 can help people with chronic graft‑versus‑host disease after a bone marrow/stem cell transplant.

  NIH research University of Central Florida · Orlando, United States · NIH-11325709

• Microbiome-based oral therapy for gut GVHD after stem cell transplant

  Researchers are testing an oral live Biotherapeutic Product to help the gut microbiome improve graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplant patients.

  NIH research Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · New York, United States · NIH-11320120

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.