# Stem Cells, Cell Therapies, and Bioengineering in Lung Biology and Lung Diseases

> **NIH NIH R13** · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · 2021 · $30,000

## Abstract

Repair and regeneration of diseased lung with stem cells or bioengineered tissue are exciting potential
therapeutic approaches for a variety of lung diseases and critical illnesses. Increasing evidence in preclinical
models suggests that cells which are not normally resident in the lung can be utilized to modulate immune
responses after injury, but there have been challenges in translating these promising findings to the clinic. In
parallel, there has been a surge in bioengineering studies investigating use of artificial and acellular lung
matrices as scaffolds for three-dimensional lung or airway regeneration, with some recent attempts of
transplantation in large animal models. The combination of these studies with those utilizing stem cells,
induced pluripotent stem cell derivatives, and/or cell therapies is a promising and rapidly developing research
area. These studies have been further paralleled by significant increases in understanding the molecular and
cellular events by which endogenous lung stem and/or progenitor cells arise and differentiate during lung
development and in normal and pathologic repair and remodeling after lung injury. We have held eight
previous biennial conferences at the University of Vermont from 2005 through 2019. These have brought
together leading international investigators with junior faculty and trainees to discuss issues in this rapidly
moving field. These conferences have been highly successful and have resulted in a series of guidelines for
basic, translational, and clinical research to be utilized by both investigators and funding agencies. As studies
on stem cell and cell therapies for lung diseases continues to move at a rapid pace and the field explores how
to best translate these approaches, we propose to again convene the relevant investigators as well as
representatives from the NHLBI, FDA, and leading non-profit respiratory disease foundations to discuss current
issues. One area in particular to be discussed is the balance between basic and translational research and the
role of clinical trials, particularly as there have now been clinical investigations of various cell types for a
number of conditions including ARDS, BPD, COPD, IPF, pulmonary hypertension, sepsis, and more recently
COVID-19. As with prior conferences a particular focus will be on rising junior investigators and trainees and
how to further develop careers in this area. As always, junior investigators, trainees, and investigators from
underrepresented minority groups will be prioritized for inclusion in conference organization, oral presentations,
chairing activities, discussions, and poster sessions. Trainees will be able to compete for an increased number
of travel awards based on blinded review of submitted abstracts. The conference is planned for July 2021 at
the University of Vermont with plans for a switch from a hybrid conference to a fully online conference if
necessary due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. We anticip...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10318408
- **Project number:** 1R13HL160043-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy Leanne Ryan
- **Activity code:** R13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $30,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-23 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10318408

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10318408, Stem Cells, Cell Therapies, and Bioengineering in Lung Biology and Lung Diseases (1R13HL160043-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10318408. Licensed CC0.

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