# Human iPSC intestine mimetics with integrated mesenchymal, endothelial and enteric nervous tissue

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $542,726

## Abstract

In this proposal, we present exciting preliminary data showing that we have generated an iPSC-derived human
intestinal organoid (HIO) model that co-differentiates a complex multilineage tissue that possesses epithelium,
a mesenchymal/stromal layer that includes organized smooth muscle, endothelial cells and enteric neurons.
This is the first complex HIO model from iPSCs to spontaneously co-differentiate tissues from all 3 embryonic
germ layers, which is a prerequisite for a fully formed and functional organ, and the phenotype is driven by
specific members of the EGF-family of grow factors that are supplied as niche factors in the HIO growth
medium. The goals of this proposal is to interrogate the development of the complex lineages present in
complex HIOs (Aim 1), to further enhance the organization and complexity of HIOs by using a novel
suspension culture method and via in vivo transplantation (Aim 2), and to functionally interrogate the vascular
and neuronal cells present complex HIOs using microfluidics and in vivo transplantation (Aim 3).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10771343
- **Project number:** 1R01DK137806-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jason Spence
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $542,726
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-03-01 → 2028-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10771343

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10771343, Human iPSC intestine mimetics with integrated mesenchymal, endothelial and enteric nervous tissue (1R01DK137806-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10771343. Licensed CC0.

---

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