Federal Grant Award Summary

Boston University Medical Campus received a $100,228 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), effective February 1, 2027, with a completion date of June 30, 2029. The award funds research to develop and evaluate induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived endothelial cell therapy as a therapeutic intervention to promote liver regeneration and repair in acute liver injury. The research will elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which endothelial cells support hepatocyte proliferation, function, and repair through paracrine signaling, utilizing two complementary acute liver injury models in immunocompromised mice and incorporating mRNA-lipid nanoparticle delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor A ligand to enhance endothelial cell engraftment and supportive function.

This research project addresses a critical clinical gap in the treatment of end-stage and acute liver disease, where organ transplantation remains the only curative therapy but donor organ scarcity severely limits availability. By developing an alternative cell-based therapeutic approach, the research aims to establish supportive endothelial cell transplantation as a viable treatment modality to facilitate hepatocyte regeneration and functional recovery, potentially offering significant clinical benefits for patients with acute liver diseases requiring rapid hepatocyte replenishment.