# Programmable Hydrogels for Optimized Human Oligodendrocyte Transplantation in Demyelinating Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO · 2024 · $553,693

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Some of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, are characterized by
chronic demyelination and a tissue environment that prevents efficient myelin repair and remyelination. While
cell therapies have the potential to promote remyelination and restore lost neurological function, major barriers
remain that hamper their successful translation to clinical treatment. Among these, survival of donor
oligodendrocytes cell (OPC) preparations and maintenance of OPC fate are key obstacles. Notably, more than
95% of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) transplanted into models of spinal cord injury die following injection 1,2,
while only 1-3% of NPCs survive when transplanted into ischemic tissue 3,4. The result of such excessive cell
death is the release of intracellular alloantigens, which likely exacerbate local inflammation and may predispose
the graft for eventual rejection. Indeed, following initial trials of glial cell replacement therapy in human congenital
hypomyelination, half of the subjects developed alloantibodies even in the context of prolonged
immunosuppression 5. In this proposal, we seek to address these major challenges. In aim 1, we will design,
synthesize and characterize a series of novel shear-thinning and bioactive hydrogels to promote survival and
minimize cell death when human (h)OPCs are subjected to shear stress during injection. In aim 2 we will use
the optimal shear-thinning hydrogel (STH) formulation to deliver cells into the corpus callosum of Shiverer/Rag2-
/- mice, a model of congenital hypomyelinating disease that has been widely accepted as the gold standard for
the assessment of myelinating cell preparations. In aim 3, we will employ a large animal model (rabbit) of
demyelination that we recently developed in our laboratories and better mimics the state of demyelinating
disease like multiple sclerosis. We will also design programmable (p)STH to retain hOPC at the site of injury and
control cell fate to maximize the myelogenic potential of transplanted cells into the injured rabbit brain. Overall,
this is a very innovative MPI proposal that combines state-of-the-art biomaterials, neuroscience and unique
animal models driven by the complementary expertise of two PIs, a bioengineer and a neuroscientist. Successful
attainment of our goals will likely lead to design of novel hydrogels and development of animal models that may
improve the potential of cell therapies for the treatment of devastating myelopathies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10868741
- **Project number:** 5R01NS130130-02
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO
- **Principal Investigator:** Stelios T. Andreadis
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $553,693
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10868741

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10868741, Programmable Hydrogels for Optimized Human Oligodendrocyte Transplantation in Demyelinating Disease (5R01NS130130-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10868741. Licensed CC0.

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