# Miniature Swine Genetic Engineering and Characterization Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $413,100

## Abstract

Core C Summary
Shortage of available allogeneic donor organs represents the greatest unmet medical need in the field of
transplantation today. The survival of pig-to-primate organ transplants has improved markedly over the past
three decades but unfortunately remains insufficient for clinical application. Further progress in this field will likely
depend upon genetic modifications of porcine source animals both to overcome molecular incompatibilities with
primate recipients and to allow the induction of immunological tolerance. The objectives of this proposal are to
produce such pigs and to identify additional genetic modifications that will help attain the goal of clinically relevant
xenograft survival. Advanced genetic engineering techniques, including site-specific recombinase-driven gene
additions and edits using the precision CRISPR-Cas9 system, will be used to specifically modify our inbred swine
with modifications addressing incompatibilities in hematopoietic cytokines (tolerance through hematopoietic
chimerism), to eliminate epitopes recognized by pre-existing antibodies common to human and baboon
recipients (B4galNT2-dependent) and to direct human CD47 to kidney cells in which it may play an important
protective role (podocytes). Genetically modified pigs incorporating the new modifications will be tested in
Projects 1 and 2 for efficacy in promoting organ survival and mixed chimerism for tolerance induction in primate
and humanized mouse models.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10328000
- **Project number:** 2P01AI045897-21A1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert J Hawley
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $413,100
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2000-09-15 → 2026-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10328000

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10328000, Miniature Swine Genetic Engineering and Characterization Core (2P01AI045897-21A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10328000. Licensed CC0.

---

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