Year 5

Transition to the mouse model for the generation of Tissue-Engineered Small Intestine (TESI) was accomplished in year 1, and in year 2 the efficiency and reproducibility of TESI formation in the mouse was markedly improved. In year 3, we showed improved tissue generation with VEGF administration and in year 4 of this grant, we determined that FGF10 overexpression enhances the formation of tissue-engineered small intestine and published those data. We also demonstrated two critical steps toward human therapy: generation of tissue-engineered large and small intestine from human progenitor cells. In Year 5, we further developed and published the generation of tissue-engineered small and large intestine, investigated the role of FGF10 in the homeostasis of the small intestine in order to determine its utility as a growth factor for engineered intestine, and began work on the request for designation to the FDA for future translation. In addition, we developed a body of data that we are submitting for publication showing that we have developed a cryopreservation and storage solution, vitrification, which results in the growth of tissue-engineered intestine with excellent viability post-thaw. We further determined that tissue-engineered intestine demonstrates numerous functional markers that are necessary for human translation.

For 2013, the work resulted in 6 invited national lectures, and 13 nationally or internationally presented abstracts. The lab also has 6 abstracts accepted for presentation in 2014 and published 5 papers this year.