UG3TR005836
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
An aging alveolar lung model in microgravity - Abstract
The accelerated aging seen in space provides a unique opportunity to model diseases, identify therapeutic targets, and test treatments more quickly than on Earth.
Space conditions mimic age-related dysfunctions, allowing for faster progression and evaluation of therapies for a number of conditions.
Here, we accordingly propose to use extracellular matrix-based scaffolds with interconnected spherical sacs, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells to develop an immunocompetent, vascularized, and ventilated three-dimensional (3D) model of the human alveolar lung as a truly biomimetic platform for understanding the interplays between pulmonary aging and aging-related disease conditions such as fibrosis, taking the advantage of the microgravity environment at the International Space Station-US National Laboratory.
Our central hypothesis is that the use of biomimetic hydrogel matrices with interconnected spherical sacs with suitable stiffness, 3D co-culture of epithelial, endothelial, immune, and fibroblastic cells, in combination with a mechanically active microfluidic bioreactor, will enable simulating in vivo-like conditions under which different cell types would maintain their correct phenotypes and functions.
Such a 3D alveolar lung model will for the first time enable faithful modeling of the healthy and fibrotic distal lung combined with microgravity in a human-based and (patho)physiologically relevant platform, providing a powerful tool for disease modeling and testing new or existing therapeutics and as such envisaged to have significant and urgent implications in space medicine and more importantly, in benefiting life on Earth, and into the future for extended studies on lung diseases.
The accelerated aging seen in space provides a unique opportunity to model diseases, identify therapeutic targets, and test treatments more quickly than on Earth.
Space conditions mimic age-related dysfunctions, allowing for faster progression and evaluation of therapies for a number of conditions.
Here, we accordingly propose to use extracellular matrix-based scaffolds with interconnected spherical sacs, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells to develop an immunocompetent, vascularized, and ventilated three-dimensional (3D) model of the human alveolar lung as a truly biomimetic platform for understanding the interplays between pulmonary aging and aging-related disease conditions such as fibrosis, taking the advantage of the microgravity environment at the International Space Station-US National Laboratory.
Our central hypothesis is that the use of biomimetic hydrogel matrices with interconnected spherical sacs with suitable stiffness, 3D co-culture of epithelial, endothelial, immune, and fibroblastic cells, in combination with a mechanically active microfluidic bioreactor, will enable simulating in vivo-like conditions under which different cell types would maintain their correct phenotypes and functions.
Such a 3D alveolar lung model will for the first time enable faithful modeling of the healthy and fibrotic distal lung combined with microgravity in a human-based and (patho)physiologically relevant platform, providing a powerful tool for disease modeling and testing new or existing therapeutics and as such envisaged to have significant and urgent implications in space medicine and more importantly, in benefiting life on Earth, and into the future for extended studies on lung diseases.
Awardee
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Massachusetts
United States
Geographic Scope
State-Wide
Brigham & Womens Hospital was awarded
3D Alveolar Lung Model in Microgravity for Disease Research
Cooperative Agreement UG3TR005836
worth $3,504,482
from National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences in September 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Massachusetts United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years and
was awarded through assistance program 93.350 National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity Tissue Chips in Space 2.0: Translational Multi-Organ Tissue Chip Systems for Drug Efficacy, Toxicity Testing, and Personalized Medicine in Human Health, Aging and Associated Diseases (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 12/19/25
Period of Performance
9/30/25
Start Date
8/31/28
End Date
Funding Split
$3.5M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$3.5M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to UG3TR005836
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
UG3TR005836
SAI Number
UG3TR005836-763419196
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Nonprofit With 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other Than An Institution Of Higher Education)
Awarding Office
75NR00 NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Funding Office
75NR00 NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Awardee UEI
QN6MS4VN7BD1
Awardee CAGE
0W3J1
Performance District
MA-90
Senators
Edward Markey
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
Modified: 12/19/25