Project Grant R21HD115087

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, awarded Georgia TECH Research Corp $438,349 on August 1, 2026, under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865) to develop a computational model integrating microstructural growth dynamics with preclinical data to advance congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patch repair.

The project addresses the high recurrence rate of CDH surgical repairs, which exceed 30–50% within the first few years post-repair, largely due to rapid postnatal growth, mechanical failure at the patch-tissue interface, and alterations in tissue remodeling. Current mesh materials used for large diaphragmatic defects—including non-resorbable synthetic materials such as GORE-TEX and resorbable collagen-based biomeshes—lack CDH-specific preclinical or clinical testing. The recipient will develop a computational model that simulates interactions between mesh patches and growing pathological tissues by integrating experimental data from laboratory studies, animal models, and human cadaver tissue experiments. The model will predict how growth, material degradation, and tissue remodeling contribute to recurrence risk, enabling surgeons to better anticipate points of mechanical weakness and make informed patch-selection decisions.

The period of performance runs from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2028. Work is performed in Georgia. The award is classified as a Project Grant, an assistance type.