# Tissue Engineering Resource Center

> **NIH NIH P41** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $401,708

## Abstract

Summary
TRD2 will focus on the development of cell lines and advanced optical systems for real-time
spatiotemporal control of engineered tissues. Cell lines will be genetically engineered to express
bioluminescent proteins for quantitative and real-time sensing, and optogenetic proteins for optical
actuation. The hypothesis is that the integration of transgenic tissues expressing these proteins with
advanced optical systems will enable real-time feedback control of engineered tissues in a spatiotemporal
manner. In conjunction with traditional bioreactors, these systems will allow for the automation and
optimization of tissue culture systems capable of rapidly screening many parameters in a variety of
contexts. Three specific aims will be pursued. Aim 1: Imaging-enabled bioreactors for disease
modeling. A tissue-engineered model of metastatic breast cancer in bone will be used to optimize the
chemotherapeutic dose using a feed back control loop for the maximization of efficacy and minimization of
toxicity. Aim 2: Optogenetic bioreactors for electrically excitable tissues with feedback control. Using
this strategy we will enable directed stimulation and maturation of engineered cardiac and neuromuscular
tissues and study the control of cardiac arrhythmias. Aim 3: Bioreactors and implantable devices for
excitation/sensing in thick tissues. These capabilities will be used to develop light conduits for
excitation/sensing in living tissues and implantable devices for optical actuation. Overall, TRD2 will result in
a suite of optical systems, optically active cell lines, and advanced bioreactors for enhanced sensing,
actuation, and control in tissue engineered systems. Our initial focus will be on bioluminescence and
optogenetics, with the ultimate goal to develop optically compatible cells, biomaterials and devices to
interface with engineered tissues, in vitro and in vivo.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10213715
- **Project number:** 5P41EB027062-03
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $401,708
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-16 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10213715

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10213715, Tissue Engineering Resource Center (5P41EB027062-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10213715. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*