Engineering a Human Bone-Vascular-Immune Organoid to Investigate Regenerative Crosstalk in Bone Regeneration

• Applicant: Dr. Xinggui Tian, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Orthopaedics, Traumatology, Reconstructive Surgery ; Biomaterials
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 576063315

This project aims to develop a novel human miniaturized organoid that realistically replicates the complex interaction between skeletal, vascular, and immune cells, the key players in bone regeneration. The organoid is based on human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), which are derived from adult human cells and can be differentiated into almost any cell type without the ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cells. This enables the creation of a unique, human-specific model that lays the foundation for future development of personalized and clinically relevant therapies. The different cell types will be arranged into a spatially organized structure using state-of-the-art 3D bioprinting technology. This system will provide new insights into natural bone healing processes as well as into pathological conditions such as osteoporosis and ectopic bone formation. The research will be conducted at Stanford University under the supervision of a globally recognized expert in the field. The project not only contributes to scientific progress but also strengthens the applicant’s international career development, particularly in the fields of biomanufacturing, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Dr. Yunzhi Peter Yang