NIH Grants $3 Million for Tissue-Immuno-Engineering Implants

Biomedical engineering researchers Kyriacos Athanasiou and Wendy Liu receive a $3 million NIH grant.

Oct. 9, 2025 - Principal investigators: Biomedical engineering researchers Kyriacos Athanasiou, Distinguished Professor, and Wendy Liu, Professor

Award: $3 million over five years

Funding agency:  National Institutes of Health

Project: Tissue-Immuno-engineering of TMJ Neodisc Implants

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc perforations pose devastating morbidities for millions of Americans. Interventions to slow or prevent progression of this disease do not exist. With this project, the UC Irvine researchers are focusing on a new concept of developing  tissue-engineered implants while also capitalizing on the immune system. Recent findings show that the immune system not only fights disease, but it also helps with tissue healing and repair.

The team, which also includes academic program management officer Jerry Hu as a third senior investigator, will examine how macrophages (immune cells) and chondrocytes (cartilage cells) work together to generate neocartilage implants for joint repair and aim to develop a tissue-immuno-engineering approach for generation of large TMJ new disc constructs. If successful, the project would improve TMJ disc healing and inform tissue-immuno-engineering approaches for other tissue applications.

More information: https://reporter.nih.gov/search/kp20UKPgvkedeisFmiIGAg/project-details/11228372

– Lori  Brandt

 

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