The project will focus on the development of 3D printed gradient generators emulating in vivo-like morphogen gradients to guide stem cell differentiation into functional pancreatic islet cells.
Current protocols for the derivation of pancreatic islet β-cells from stem cells remain relatively inefficient. To help advance the field of islet cell transplantation, the researchers will test a 3D-printed tool known as a Bioengineered Gradient Generator – a technology they anticipate will help scale-up of stem cell seeding and a more efficient differentiation for cell replacement therapies in diabetes. Results will also generate significant preliminary data for a multi-PI R01 project that they plan to submit to the NIH next year.