# A 4D-tunable hydrogel for the study of the impact of the tumor microenvironment on the development of colorectal cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $512,478

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The goal of this proposal is to develop a platform created from advanced biomaterials that enable novel
investigations into the physiochemical roles of the tumor microenvironment (TME) on the origins of
colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. and is increasing in
incidence. Virtually all of these tumors arise from adenomas or polyps whose progression to cancer is
driven by physical and chemical changes within the TME in concert with genetic mutations. Although
much is known about the genetics of colon cancer, relatively little is understood about how the
physicochemical properties of the surrounding TME matrix impact the process of cancer initiation.
Current evidence does suggest that these TME alterations are critical to adenoma formation and
progression to cancer. To advance our understanding of this process, an interdisciplinary group of
internationally renowned investigators with expertise in materials science, bioengineering, optical
platforms, intestinal stem cell biology and oncology has been assembled to create a 4D-tunable
hydrogel to study how these TME alterations impact the development of colorectal cancer. Advanced
light-activated hydrogels and their fabrication in forming an accurate model of the colonic architecture
at the micron scale will be extensively optimized and characterized. The light activatable biomaterials
with controllable physiochemical properties will then form a foundational component of a colon
microphysiologic system (MPS). Human intestinal cells will reside on the new biomatrix scaffolding
possessing photo-controlled stiffness in both space and time and supporting formation of chemical
gradients. To take full advantage of the new biomaterials tool set, a customized light-sheet platform and
imaging cassette compatible with application of gradients of growth factors and oxygen will be
developed to support the living colonic tissue on this bioengineered scaffold. The platform will enable
high-quality imaging of large numbers of colonic crypts to generate data sets of sufficient size for
statistical comparisons and hypothesis testing. This humanized, architecturally and physiochemically
accurate biomaterials platform will then be used to reveal key characteristics of the TME’s influence on
the hallmarks of cancer demonstrating the utility of these advanced biomaterials in studies of colon and
other cancer types.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10856294
- **Project number:** 1R01CA289291-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Nancy L. Allbritton
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $512,478
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10856294

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10856294, A 4D-tunable hydrogel for the study of the impact of the tumor microenvironment on the development of colorectal cancer (1R01CA289291-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10856294. Licensed CC0.

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