# Enhancing Neurogenesis for Brain Tissue Regeneration

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $422,979

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The regeneration of brain tissue has been considered one of the greatest challenges for
regenerative medicine. Only a few invertebrate species spontaneously regenerate brain
tissue, but this does not occur in mammals, although a repair response in form of an
increased neurogenesis occurs. This neurogenesis provides the cellular substrate
required for tissue regeneration. However, tissue regeneration also requires a structural
substrates where neural progenitors can integrate and form new tissue. We have
demonstrated that bioscaffolds formed out of extracellular matrix (ECM) serve this
function when implanted into a stroke cavity. Nevertheless, neuron density in this newly
forming tissue is too low and we therefore here propose to: 1) establish optimal
conditions for neurogenesis stimulation through growth factor delivery and 2) to exploit
this enhanced neurogenesis to re-populate an ECM bioscaffold implanted into the stroke
cavity. We expect that this combined approach will increase neuron density in the newly
forming brain tissue and this will lead to an improved outcome of behavioral functions. A
combined ECM plus neurogenesis stimulation approach can potentially provide a new
treatment paradigm for chronic stroke patients. At present, there is no therapeutic
intervention that addresses the issue of a tissue cavity in these patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10217654
- **Project number:** 1R21NS118399-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Michel M. Modo
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $422,979
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2023-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10217654

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10217654, Enhancing Neurogenesis for Brain Tissue Regeneration (1R21NS118399-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10217654. Licensed CC0.

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