# Local Regulation of Angiogenesis by Microenvironment

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2022 · $371,250

## Abstract

Project Description and Summary
The vascularization of engineered tissues is critical to the ultimate success of tissue
engineering as an organ replacement therapy. The formation of new capillary vessels
from existing vasculature, or angiogenesis, also is linked to the pathogenesis of
numerous diseases including cancer, and is regulated by local cues within the tissue
microenvironment. The general goal of this renewal project is to understand the
mechanism by which local extracellular matrix (ECM) properties regulate endothelial cell
invasion and sprout morphogenesis required in angiogenesis, and to use these insights
to guide design of biomaterials to enhance angiogenesis for clinically relevant
applications. The investigator has found that adhesion to ECM generates not only
biochemical, but also mechanical signals that are important in driving endothelial cell
function. Preliminary studies from the investigator suggest that ECM stiffness,
adhesiveness, and degradability could be used to regulate the angiogenic invasion
process through such materials by modulating key signaling pathways regulating the
actin cytoskeleton. In this proposal, the investigator proposes to further investigate the
role of these ECM cues in regulating angiogenic behaviors. The project proposes to
develop biomaterials to investigate the contributions of different matrix properties and
their cooperation in regulating angiogenesis using both in vitro and in vivo models, and
to examine the morphodynamics of developing vasculature within those materials. The
investigator will examine whether these materials can be used to control the
architecture of angiogenic vessels. Together, these studies will define the mechanisms
by which local structural and mechanical properties within ECM modulate endothelial
cell function and capillary morphogenesis, and establish new biomaterials design
strategies to promote angiogenesis in ex-vivo engineered tissues as well as native
ischemic tissues.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10376043
- **Project number:** 5R01EB000262-22
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOPHER S CHEN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $371,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10376043

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10376043, Local Regulation of Angiogenesis by Microenvironment (5R01EB000262-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10376043. Licensed CC0.

---

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