Programmable stem cells to improve survival and therapy in damaged tissues
Official title: Reinvent Mesenchymal Stem Cells - A Synthetic Biology Approach to Engineer Programmable Cellular Theranostics
Funded at University of South Dakota · NIH-11267049 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing engineered mesenchymal stem cells that can sense stress in damaged tissues and respond with protective signals to boost healing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Dakota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Vermillion, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,799,643 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EB038224-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11267049 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with tissue injury or degenerative conditions who are candidates for stem cell therapies and can participate in future translational research.
✕Less likely to help
This early-stage work is preclinical and may not directly benefit all patients; regulatory and safety steps are required before clinical use.
What this research studies
This grant aims to create programmable mesenchymal stem cells that survive better in harsh tissue environments by using synthetic gene circuits to sense stress and trigger beneficial responses. The project will integrate autonomous control mechanisms to ensure safety and targeted action, with the goal of enhancing regenerative outcomes. If successful, these aiMSCs could become a new cellular therapy approach for diseases involving tissue damage in adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Patients with damaged or diseased tissues could experience improved healing and regeneration through safer, more effective stem cell therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies with engineered stem cells have shown promise in improving cell survival and function in hostile microenvironments, supporting continued development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, William C.w. — University of South Dakota
- Study coordinator: Chen, William C.w.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Boosting the cell cleanup system to protect against aging and Alzheimer's
Researchers will see whether changing a tiny chemical switch on the cell's protein-cleaning machinery helps prevent aging-related damage and Alzheimer's changes in the brain and heart.
-
Understanding how heart cells control protein disposal to prevent heart failure
A research project from the University of South Dakota aims to learn how the heart’s protein disposal system works during ischemic heart disease to help prevent heart failure.
-
Mobile web app to increase cervical cancer screening for Yankton Sioux women
A culturally tailored mobile web app will send personalized messages to help Yankton Sioux women ages 25–65 stay up to date with cervical cancer screening.
-
Using brain growth signals to help memory and thinking
Testing lab-designed versions of the hormone erythropoietin that keep its brain-helping effects but not the blood effects, to help people with memory and attention problems.
-
South Dakota INBRE: Growing Biomedical Research in SD
A statewide program builds biomedical research capacity in South Dakota by supporting training, collaboration, and shared core resources across universities.
-
Targeting HIV reservoirs in the brain to improve treatment outcomes
This study is looking for new ways to help people with HIV by targeting hidden spots in the brain where the virus can still hide, even when they're on treatment, and it focuses on understanding how certain proteins can help in this process.
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.