# An In Vitro Model of Stem Cell Innervation of Myotubes

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA · 2020 · $481,578

## Abstract

Project Description:
 A long-term goal of the research in our laboratory is to re-create the components and compartments of
mammalian systems, and in particular human systems, to engineer functional hybrid models. The previous
grant period for this Bioengineering Research Grant (BRG) was to investigate the formation of a model system
of the reflex arc with rat then human stem cells. During this funding period we have made the following
breakthroughs with this model system that move us closer to the goal of creating a functional in vitro model of
the complete reflex arc for applications as a phenotypic drug screening system: 1) A functional human to
human NMJ system that can be stimulated by both chemical and electrical means that exhibit dose response
measurement capabilities to selected compounds that modulate the NMJ. 2) Demonstrated differentiation of
Type II, Type Ia and nociceptive sensory neurons from human stem cells and shown functional, mature
electrophysiological properties. 3) Derived human intrafusal fibers from stem cells and demonstrated functional
human sensory to human intrafusal fiber innervation. 4) Demonstrated sensory neuron to motoneuron
innervation with functional synapse formation. 5) Demonstrated human γ-motoneuron innervation of human
intrafusal fibers. The previous grant has led to the publication of 26 manuscripts, 3 submitted and another 6 are
in preparation, as well as the submission of 12 patents. Six of the articles are in Biomaterials, which has an
impact factor of 8.557, and is the leading journal in the field of Biomedical Engineering.
 This renewal BRG application seeks to complete the development of the complete reflex arc in vitro using
cells derived from human stem cells in Aim 1 and then apply aspects of the system to investigation of
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in Aims 2 and 3, respectively. The major innovation of this interdisciplinary
proposal is the creation of physiologically realistic human in vitro functional units of the CNS and PNS with the
proper cell types, cellular interactions and connectivity for application to enable phenotypic screening systems.
This technology integration is necessary as we believe these systems are crucial to the creation of the next
generation high-content screening platforms.
 Our idea is that we can create functional in vitro models of the reflex arc or its components, with cells
derived from human stem cells, to then recreate phenotypic disease models. The continuation of the grant will
enable 1) A functional human cell based reflex arc in a defined, serum-free environment and 2) application of
the motoneuron to muscle segment to understand mechanisms in ALS by investigating combinations of WT
and mutant cells from patients and 3) to validate the systems. Our expertise in surface chemistry, Micro-
ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication and developmental/cellular/molecular biology enables the
construction of complex functional neuronal systems in vitro. Ou...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9948003
- **Project number:** 5R01NS050452-15
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** James J Hickman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $481,578
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2005-09-23 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9948003

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9948003, An In Vitro Model of Stem Cell Innervation of Myotubes (5R01NS050452-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9948003. Licensed CC0.

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