# Tissue Engineering Resource Center

> **NIH NIH P41** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $1,349,613

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Tissue engineering is rapidly developing, but remains limited by (i) scaffold and bioreactor designs that are
based on predetermined parameters, and (ii) the lack of real-time, nondestructive measurements of cell
and tissue function. To overcome these two limitations, we will develop adaptive-responsive biomaterials
that can sense environmental signals and actuate the cells, and imaging-enabled bioreactors with real-time
spatiotemporal control of engineered tissues with feedback from the measured cell responses. Our goal is
to offer these advances to the tissue engineering community, and translate them into clinic. The proposed
Tissue Engineering Resource Center brings together four highly productive and actively collaborating
investigators from Columbia University (lead institution), Tufts University and Columbia University Medical
Center-Presbyterian Hospital. An Administrative Board will coordinate the Center's activities, in conjunction
with an External Advisory Committee, formed from the world leaders in tissue engineering and clinical
translation that will evaluate the Center and provide guidance in strategic planning. The Center will partner
with a number of existing resources (please see 13 letters of collaboration), and will have very generous
financial support of the Columbia University School of Engineering ($2,425,000 over the five-year cycle).
Strong and effective leadership is uniquely suited to support this transformative Center.
The technical components of the Center are three Technology Research and Development Projects
(TRD1: Adaptive-responsive biomaterials; TRD2: Imaging enabled bioreactor systems; TRD3:
Regenerative engineering), eight Collaborative Projects and six Service Projects. We also propose a
robust and diverse Training and Dissemination program to provide links between the projects in the
Center with training of biomedical investigators in the use of new technologies, and the outreach to
students, general public and underserved communities. Our mission is is that the Center will serve as a
transformative driving force for the field of tissue engineering, by developing and translating new
technologies, providing training and service, and offering dissemination and outreach programs for general
public and high school students. With a highly innovative scientific premise, extensive foundational
research, strong leadership and institutional support, experience in translational research, and long history
of collaboration among the lead investigators, we are confident that the Center will accomplish its mission.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10021402
- **Project number:** 5P41EB027062-02
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,349,613
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-16 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10021402

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10021402, Tissue Engineering Resource Center (5P41EB027062-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10021402. Licensed CC0.

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