National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 1F31HL184766-01

Developing a 3D bioprinted bone marrow model to probe hematopoietic stem cell mobilization in response to age-related changes in stiffness gradients

This award funds the development of a 3D bioprinted bone marrow model to study how age-related changes in stiffness affect hematopoietic stem cell mobilization, aiming to improve clinical outcomes for bone marrow transplants.

Description

We are proposing to develop a physiomimetic heterogenous 3D bone marrow model to investigate how nonlinear and age-related stiffness barriers drive HSC mobilization and phenotype. We have engineered a 3D extrusion bioprinted model with precise spatial control of hydrogel stiffness, allowing us to address a clinical challenge of how age-related changes contribute to poor mobilization outcomes. If successful, this work will have improved clinical decision-making abilities for poor mobilizer patients, ultimately guiding patient-specific mobilization strategies for transplantation success.

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