Synthetic vascularization and regeneration in engineered liver tissue
Official title: Synthetic vascularization and regeneration in engineered tissues
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11381893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to create engineered liver tissue grafts whose blood vessel growth and enlargement can be controlled inside the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $528,242 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB033821-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with liver disease or those who may benefit from future engineered liver tissue grafts or related regenerative therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People not requiring liver tissue grafts or regenerative therapies at this time may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds liver tissue grafts that include liver cells, blood vessel cells, and supportive cells in a way that allows researchers to turn on or off how blood vessels form and how the tissue expands. They will use synthetic transcription factors to guide paracrine signals so vascularization and growth happen on demand, both in lab models and in living hosts. The work combines in vitro microfluidic liver models and in vivo implants to test functional blood vessel networks and tissue expansion under controlled conditions. The goal is to make engineered liver tissues that can integrate with the body more reliably and robustly, even in challenging environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may benefit from improved engineered liver grafts with better blood supply and growth control, potentially aiding liver disease treatments or transplantation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous models show that coordinated signaling can promote vascularization in engineered tissues, with ongoing work to translate this to controllable, on-demand regeneration.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Christopher S — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Chen, Christopher S
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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.