# Artificial, Humanized Stem Cell Niches

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · 2021 · $542,171

## Abstract

Abstract
This project will develop and verify a microtissue engineered bioreactor platform to expand bone marrow
cancer stem cells and create xenograft models using frozen MDS patient marrow cells. The project
specific aims are: (1) Specific Aim 1: Microfluidic bioreactor for human HSC expansion from a low
volume marrow sample; (2) Specific Aim 2: Genetically engineered scaffolds to recreate a MDS
microenvironment ex vivo; and (3) Specific Aim 3: Ex vivo differentiation testing of MDS stem cells to
predict leukemic transformation. The deliverable of the project will be a qualified bioreactor culture
system and protocol to expand rare cells, such as pre-leukemic stem cells, from a small volume bone
marrow biopsy tissue sample for use in prospective clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10192715
- **Project number:** 5R01EB012521-11
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.
- **Principal Investigator:** Biju Parekkadan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $542,171
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-08-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10192715

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10192715, Artificial, Humanized Stem Cell Niches (5R01EB012521-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10192715. Licensed CC0.

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