Understanding how different organs communicate to fight disease using advanced tissue-chips
Multi-organ culture and pumping systems for ex vivo models of immunity in hybrid tissue-chips
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · NIH-11121791
This project creates new lab tools to help us understand how our immune system works across different body parts, which is important for fighting infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHARLOTTESVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11121791 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Our immune system relies on complex communication between lymph nodes and other organs to protect us from illness. It's often difficult to observe these dynamic interactions in living bodies or standard lab dishes. This project is developing special 3D-printed devices, called tissue-chips, that can hold slices of different organs together. These chips will include tiny pumping systems to circulate fluids, mimicking how our body's systems connect. This innovative approach will allow scientists to observe how immune cells move and interact between tissues, helping us learn more about how our body fights disease or responds to vaccines and treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation, but future clinical applications could benefit individuals with infections, cancer, or autoimmune conditions.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention will not receive benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to predict immune responses, understand disease mechanisms, and design more effective vaccines and immunotherapies for conditions like infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds on prior work that showed promise in modeling tumor-induced immunosuppression in a simpler two-tissue system.
Where this research is happening
CHARLOTTESVILLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA — CHARLOTTESVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: POMPANO, REBECCA R — UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- Study coordinator: POMPANO, REBECCA R
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.