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Supplement Multifunctional Tough Adhesive Hydrogels to Recruit, Expand, and Deliver Tendon Cells During Aging and Injury

Award Number: R00AG065495
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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Supplement Multifunctional Tough Adhesive Hydrogels to Recruit, Expand, and Deliver Tendon Cells During Aging and Injury - Project Summary/Abstract My laboratory studies structure-function mechanisms of tendon aging and injury and how they may be improved using biomaterials. My research training in bioengineering started by studying the role of healing and fatigue loading on multiscale tendon properties. I realized that knowledge of biomaterials and therapeutic delivery strategies would be essential to develop treatments for tendon. During my F32 and K99 postdoctoral training, we have developed and explored the capacity of tough adhesive biomaterials, inspired by the mucus secreted by slugs, to adhere strongly to tendon surfaces. The goal of this tough adhesive biomaterial is to provide mechanical support and a template for tendon regeneration, serve as a depot for local delivery of agents, support cell growth and infiltration, and provide gliding of surrounding tissues. This R00 Application examines a new cell delivery strategy to dynamically recruit cells in vivo, expand them, and release them on-demand to promote tendon healing using this biomaterial platform. My mentoring team consists of Dr. David Mooney (primary mentor) and other renowned scientists specializing in tendon developmental and aging biology, musculoskeletal biology, drug delivery, orthopaedic bioengineering, materials science, and orthopaedic surgery. They provide me with an exceptional environment to investigate these questions and develop the necessary skills to contribute to the field as an independent investigator. We hypothesize that this biomaterial system can be tuned to recruit, expand, and deliver tendon cells (using tough adhesive hydrogels) and augment tendon properties during aging and injury. This hypothesis will be tested with the following aims: (1) develop and examine the ability of tough hydrogels containing chemotactic agents to recruit tendon-derived cells, promote their proliferation, and increase expression of tendon markers throughout aging and injury in vitro and in vivo; (2) develop and examine the ability of hydrogel degradation and embedded fibers to template mature tendon, drive expression of tendon markers, and promote cell release from the scaffold to the injury site throughout aging and injury, in vitro and in vivo; and (3) investigate the ability of the tough adhesive hydrogel system to restore age-related deficits in tendon homeostasis and healing using a clinically-relevant Achilles tendon rodent model. Success would have a dramatic impact on individuals suffering from tendon dysfunction following injury and could contribute to the development of on-demand therapeutics for other musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases. Overall, this comprehensive project and training plan have provided me outstanding training to develop the technical and professional skills necessary to establish a successful and independent research program to study and provide mentoring in musculoskeletal tissue aging and biomaterials.


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 = $121,030 )
2026	2026	BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC.	330 BROOKLINE AVE	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	000	5	1/21/2026	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$121,030
														Subtotal = $121,030

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $244,021 )
2025	2025	BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC.	330 BROOKLINE AVE	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	000	5	6/27/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$244,021
														Subtotal = $244,021

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $249,001 )
2024	2024	BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC.	330 BROOKLINE AVE	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	002	4	5/31/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$228,351
2024	2023	BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC	330 BROOKLINE AVE	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	000	3	11/24/2023	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
2024	2023	BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC.	330 BROOKLINE AVE	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	001	3	1/10/2024	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$20,650
														Subtotal = $249,001

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $249,000 )
2023	2023	BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC	330 BROOKLINE AVE	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Aging Research	000	3	8/1/2023	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$249,000
														Subtotal = $249,000

Grand Total All Awards = $863,052

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Supplement Multifunctional Tough Adhesive Hydrogels to Recruit, Expand, and Deliver Tendon Cells During Aging and Injury

Award Number: R00AG065495

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

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