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Genetic-engineered control of the immunogeneic state of vascular composite allografts during preservation

Award Number: R01EB028782
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2029

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Genetic-engineered control of the immunogeneic state of vascular composite allografts during preservation - PROJECT ABSTRACT. This is a design driven study to develop engineered VCA grafts by direct genetic modification to test the efficacy in both detecting immune rejection and reducing immunogenicity in a porcine model of graft rejection. A genetic construct with a transcription factor control element will serve as a biosensor for reporting and therapeutically responding to the immunologic state of a graft. This synthetic gene switch simultaneously drives the secretion of a blood-based biomarker and a therapeutic protein to attenuate a rejection response. In our prior work and preliminary results, we have shown engineering of cells with all the required response elements, a mathematical model that predicts in vivo transduction, direct genetic modification of VCA tissue in rat limbs, and the first 24hr ex vivo pig VCA machine perfusion with a successful transplant in a heterotopic porcine hindlimb model. The rationale here is to scale up the techniques based on our recent successes in rodents, and test the proposed smart-graft approach in a clinically relevant graft rejection model in pigs. This application proposes the development of a functional preservation platform for engineering grafts that feature theranostic biosensors for reporting and responding to the state of the graft. To enable the creation of such grafts and their transplant in a clinically viable fashion, we propose to leverage machine perfusion protocol to provide a functional preservation modality that will also enhance the logistics of VCA transplantation by increasing the VCA storage time from the current limit of 6 hours to 24hours. The proposed work is significant in two synergistic aspects: first, smart-graft technology that can sensitively measure local tissue signaling would enable practical monitoring and diagnosis of acute rejection episodes, which remains elusive and critical from a practical perspective to titrate the dosage of immune suppression in patients. Moreover, auto-delivery of anti- inflammatory therapeutic molecules can transform care of transplant patients since compliance issues in medication would be dramatically reduced, and moreover by delivering such therapeutics at a local and time- sensitive manner will likely increase the overall efficacy and therefore reduce graft rejections. Second, from a practical & logistical perspective, engineering VCA grafts will require an organ culture protocol that provides access and time to achieve such manipulations. The proposed machine perfusion protocol provides the perfect platform to achieve such timelines. In the long term, the methods developed here could also enable for tolerance induction in VCA transplants, and therefore allow for their wide-spread use. Even more broadly, genetically modified organs could extended ex vivo storage duration and provide the infrastructure required to extend HLA typing to all grafts for global matching programs and improved transplant outcomes.


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 = $610,988 )
2026	2026	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	6	4/9/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$610,988
														Subtotal = $610,988

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $627,238 )
2025	2025	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	5	3/19/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$550,863
2025	2025	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	002	5	8/22/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$76,375
2025	2024	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	001	4	7/1/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $627,238

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $449,944 )
2024	2024	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	4	5/16/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$449,944
														Subtotal = $449,944

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $459,128 )
2023	2023	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	3	3/23/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$459,128
														Subtotal = $459,128

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $459,128 )
2022	2022	MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	2	5/26/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$459,128
														Subtotal = $459,128

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $476,128 )
2021	2021	MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	1	6/21/2021	NEW	$476,128
														Subtotal = $476,128

Grand Total All Awards = $3,082,554

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Genetic-engineered control of the immunogeneic state of vascular composite allografts during preservation

Award Number: R01EB028782

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2029

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