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Photopatterned mechanical and molecular instruction for disease modeling

Award Number: K99DK147773
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2028

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Photopatterned mechanical and molecular instruction for disease modeling - PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Chronic liver diseases, such as fibrosis and cirrhosis, are among the leading causes of death worldwide, However, current in vitro models fail to faithfully replicate the liver’s complex and heterogeneous microenvironment during fibrosis progression, while in vivo models often lack translational relevance to human biology. Existing systems do not recapitulate key features such as spatially varied matrix stiffness, molecular signaling gradients, and the hierarchical vascular architecture essential to liver structure and function. The goal of this K99/R00 proposal is to develop a bioprinted in vitro liver fibrosis model to enable mechanistic investigation of liver vascular remodeling, advancing both disease modeling and therapeutic discovery. We propose to develop MEMIC, a bioprinted hydrogel platform for Mechanical and Molecular Integrated Control of cell microenvironments. This platform integrates tunable gelatin-heparin methacrylate bioinks with high- resolution digital light processing bioprinting. It enables microscale spatial control of matrix stiffness and cytokine presentation to mimic fibrotic liver microenvironment. Using MEMIC, we will investigate how mechanical and molecular cues drive hepatic vascular remodeling during liver fibrosis. The project includes three specific aims: (1) develop a library of gelatin-heparin methacrylate bioinks with tunable mechanics and cytokine release kinetics, (2) construct a hierarchical liver-specific vascular network using spatially patterned endothelial subtypes, and (3) investigate how heterogeneous mechanical stiffness and cytokine signaling regulate liver vascular reorganization as liver fibrosis progression. This interdisciplinary research leverages biomaterials, bioprinting and liver and vascular biology to build a physiologically relevant liver disease model. It directly supports NIDDK’s mission by advancing liver disease modeling and enabling mechanistic studies of fibrosis that could inform future therapeutic strategies. The proposed research will also support the PI’s transition to independence at the interface of biomaterials, bioprinting, tissue engineering and disease modeling.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $90,000 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON	4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE	SEATTLE	WA	98195	KING	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	1	6/19/2026	NEW	$90,000
														Subtotal = $90,000

Grand Total All Awards = $90,000

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Photopatterned mechanical and molecular instruction for disease modeling

Award Number: K99DK147773

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2028

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