# Bat pluripotent stem cells as a novel experimental system

> **NIH NIH R21** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $211,250

## Abstract

Bats are perhaps the most fascinating but least understood mammalian order. It is clear
that, although bats are a critically needed new model organism, limited access to animal
and cell models has hindered their study. We recently generated the first induced
pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a bat (R. ferrumequinum) and discovered that bat
iPSCs had a unique transcriptomic profile enriched in metabolomic and immune
pathways ketogenic metabolism and a unique inflammasome response. We plan to
generate additional to test if our novel protocol can be used for any bat species and that
essential metabolic genes uniquely expressed only in bat cells, including HMGC2, can
be knocked out using CRISPR/Cas9. We will also evaluate if the inflammatory response
is altered in myeloid cells derived from bat iPSCs. Bat stem cell lines and differentiated
progeny will help address bat physiology’s most tantalizing questions, including
immunity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10906740
- **Project number:** 5R21AI169516-02
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas P. Zwaka
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $211,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-14 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10906740

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10906740, Bat pluripotent stem cells as a novel experimental system (5R21AI169516-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10906740. Licensed CC0.

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