Friday, June 20, 2025 6/20/2025

Robust Control of the Stem Cell Niche

Award Number: R35GM122465
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2017
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2023

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Robust Control of the Stem Cell Niche - Overview The interdisciplinary lab focuses an overarching question: how biological controls manage heterogeneity and achieve robustness, and how subversion of such mechanisms heightens risk for disease. To address this question, the lab studies fundamental mechanisms and develops new technology to probe such processes in live animals at high spatiotemporal resolution: 1) The lab has discovered that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) such as long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and microRNA can initiate asymmetric cell division and limit plasticity. Not essential for healthy tissue, ncRNA can be triggered to turn on asymmetric division to safeguard tissue integrity during inflammation-induced reparative regeneration. 2) The lab discovered that fast- and slow-cycling intestinal stem cells can directly interconvert via asymmetric division, representing an optimal survival strategy for the tissue. 3) To address the limitation of current engraftment models, the lab developed a novel chemokine-targeting technology to engraft human cells into immunocompetent mouse hosts by manipulating cell migration via embryonic thymus to build central immune tolerance. 4) A new device integrating an abdominal window, a 3D-printed scaffold, and a transparent graphene sensor has been designed to demonstrate live recording of the enteric nervous system for the first time. Goals In the next five years, the lab will explore three areas: Goal 1. Elucidating the ncRNA mechanisms that regulate asymmetric division and safeguard tissue integrity, e.g., to understand their mechanism of asymmetric segregation and to identify such lncRNAs and microRNAs in a systematic way. Goal 2. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of the intestinal stem cell niche using intravital imaging, laser ablation, and multiscale stochastic modeling. Goal 3. Epigenetic profiling and reprogramming of intestinal cell lineages using ATAC-seq and CRISPR-Cas9- based epigenome editing. Vision With a background in electrical engineering, the PI has always been intrigued by the ability of biological circuits to perform robust functions with very imprecise components and seemingly messy architectures, in contrast to man-made electrical circuits which rely on precise devices and carefully laid-out designs. The proposed study attempts to deepen our understanding of tissue homeostasis and highlights the sophistication of underlying biological circuitry in terms of dynamics and robustness. The lab will also develop new tools for the research community to ask the kind of questions that are impossible right now. The study will provide new insight into disease conditions and contribute to future regenerative medicine.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	TERASAKI INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION	21100 ERWIN ST	WOODLAND HILLS	CA	91367	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	8	11/6/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2021	TERASAKI INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION	21100 ERWIN ST	WOODLAND HILLS	CA	91367	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	6	1/15/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $681,990 )
2024	2024	TERASAKI INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION	21100 ERWIN ST	WOODLAND HILLS	CA	91367	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	8	9/6/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$681,990
														Subtotal = $681,990

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $681,990 )
2023	2023	TERASAKI INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION	1018 WESTWOOD BLVD	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	7	8/15/2023	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$681,990
														Subtotal = $681,990

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $36,084 )
2022	2021	TERASAKI INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION	1018 WESTWOOD BLVD	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	6	2/22/2022	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$205,032
2022	2021	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	5	8/28/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$2
2022	2021	TERASAKI INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION	1018 WESTWOOD BLVD	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	003	6	8/28/2022	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$2
2022	2021	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	5	2/21/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$168,948
														Subtotal = $36,084

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $535,194 )
2021	2021	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	5	3/26/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$535,194
														Subtotal = $535,194

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $674,454 )
2020	2020	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	4/2/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$566,644
2020	2020	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	4	9/3/2020	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$107,810
														Subtotal = $674,454

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $734,277 )
2019	2019	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	3/26/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$610,555
2019	2019	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	7/19/2019	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$123,722
														Subtotal = $734,277

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $578,016 )
2018	2018	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	002	2	9/19/2018	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$42,822
2018	2018	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	2	5/24/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$53,520
2018	2018	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	3/29/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$481,674
														Subtotal = $578,016

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $282,681 )
2017	2017	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST STE 710	DURHAM	NC	27708	DURHAM	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	3/24/2017	NEW	$282,681
														Subtotal = $282,681

Grand Total All Awards = $4,204,686

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Robust Control of the Stem Cell Niche

Award Number: R35GM122465

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2017

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2023

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer