# Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp)

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · 2024 · $47,472

## Abstract

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp)
Parent Grant: Bottom-up Assembly of Functional Salivary Gland Tissues (R01 DE029655)
Project Summary: The goal of this supplement is to extend the scope and capabilities of the parent award by
providing training and educational opportunities to a graduate student of a low socioeconomic status background.
Specifically, the candidate will develop a microphysiological model of the salivary gland with integrated epithelial
and vascular compartments using a biochip-based microfluidic platform. While co-culture of salivary gland
epithelial and endothelial cells in a customized hydrogel matrix of macroscopic dimension will likely lead to the
establishment of a pre-vascularized neotissue that can be directly implanted to the host to re-establish the
secretory function (Aim 2 of the parent award), the chip-based tissue model with a defined epithelial-endothelial
interface will enable mechanistic investigations on how the endothelial components affect the organization and
the phenotype of the epithelial cells. The candidate will evaluate whether the vascular components will enhance
the expansion of progenitor cells, suppress ductal differentiation, promote the establishment of polarized acini,
and at the same time, facilitate epithelial patterning. He will further evaluate whether a primitive vasculature and
a fully functional and perfusable blood vessel exert the same effects on the epithelium. Parallel to the
establishment of the scientific program is a mentoring plan that includes the development of annual Individual
Development Plan (IDP), frequent mentor-mentee meetings, and interactions with the broader scientific
community. Overall, the supplemental funds will enable the candidate to develop critical research expertise, build
the foundation of his Ph.D. thesis, hone communication skills and establish professional networks that will help
produce a future scientist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10902234
- **Project number:** 3R01DE029655-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- **Principal Investigator:** Xinqiao Jia
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $47,472
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-02-01 → 2024-08-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10902234

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10902234, Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp) (3R01DE029655-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10902234. Licensed CC0.

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