# Tissue Engineering Resource Center

> **NIH NIH P41** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $402,178

## Abstract

SUMMARY
TRD3 will focus on the development and implementation of bioreactors for engineering clinically
sized tissues and whole organs, with quantitative real-time imaging of biological processes, and
determination of factors of disease remodeling of pathologic states in native whole organs.
Specifically, we plan to develop two classes of next-generation bioreactor systems: (i) Visually guided
bioreactors for lung regeneration by targeted cell replacement and bioactive agents; and (ii) Perfusion
bioreactor for recapitulation of the post-myocardial infarct environment and study the modalities for
regeneration of heart tissue. Our hypothesis is that this new class of imaging enabled bioreactors will
provide considerable insights into the dynamic processes involved in tissue regeneration and thereby
facilitate targeted interventions in complex tissues and whole organs. Two specific aims will be
pursued. Aim 1 is to develop an integrated bioreactor-imaging system for functional regeneration of
human donor lungs rejected as unacceptable for transplantation and to elucidate the factors associated
with the determination of reversibility of the fibrotic process in diseased lungs. The bioreactor will allow
interventions (such as removal and replacement of lung epithelium including associated exosomes) in
targeted regions of the lung (from the upper airway all the way to alveolar spaces), with continuous
non-invasive monitoring of the lung function during interventions and repair. Aim 2 is to develop a
perfusion bioreactor system for heart tissue regeneration. The bioreactor will be designed to
recapitulate the post infarct environment and investigate therapeutic modalities, with focus on cell-free
treatment using exosomes secreted by therapeutic cells. An integrated controller will allow for the real
time control of medium perfusion in response to measured metabolic parameters. Overall, the TRD3
projects aim to advance the field of tissue engineering by offering these unique bioreactor-imaging
platforms to investigators as well as clinicians, and enabling them to obtain quantitative insights into the
dynamics of growth and regeneration of tissues and organs to promote translational applications in lung
transplantation and management of ischemic heart disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10434732
- **Project number:** 5P41EB027062-04
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Barry M. Fine
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $402,178
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-16 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10434732

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10434732, Tissue Engineering Resource Center (5P41EB027062-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10434732. Licensed CC0.

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