Advancing Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering: Recent Grants Propel Research of Ngan F. Huang

by Mary Sheridan Bilbao, PA-C, MPAS
February 9, 2024

Ngan Huang, PhD, an Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University, and, by courtesy, of Chemical Engineering.  Dr. Huang is a Principal Investigator at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System and has recently been awarded multiple prestigious grants for her groundbreaking work in Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering. With a research focus on this innovative field, Dr. Huang's lab aims to revolutionize treatment options for cardiovascular diseases. Her extensive expertise is reflected in over 100 peer-reviewed research publications, including contributions to esteemed journals such as Nat Med, PNAS, and Nano Lett. Notable accolades adorn her career, including a NIH K99/R00 Career Development Award, Fellow of the American Heart Association, and various Young Investigator awards from prominent societies. Dr. Huang's research is generously funded by key institutions such as the NIH, Department of Defense, California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, American Heart Association, and Department of Veteran Affairs, showcasing the widespread recognition and support for her impactful contributions to the field of cardiovascular surgery and tissue engineering.

This month, Ngan received a thrilling overview of her life and professional achievements in the spotlight titled “Faculty Spotlight: Regenerative Bioengineer, Ngan Huang” authored by the Cardiovascular Institute (CVI).   

We are thrilled and immensely proud of Ngan Huang's latest grants and accomplishments, which include investigating the Role of Nicotine in Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition within Atherosclerotic Lesions, developing Novel Highly Regenerative and Scalable Progenitor Cell Exosomes for Peripheral Artery Disease treatment, exploring Biomaterials for delivering and sustaining tip endothelial cells, and researching the Application of electrical current to enhance lymphatic regeneration.   Read details about each grant below.

T33IP6580 (Huang) 7/1/23-6/30/25
Tobacco Related Disease Research Program
Role of Nicotine on Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Atherosclerotic Lesions
The effect of nicotine in regulating EndoMT in the progression of atherosclerosis is largely unknown. Accordingly, Specific Aim 1 is to test the hypothesis that nicotine induces EndoMT using an in vitro ‘atherosclerosis-on-a-chip’ platform. In a complementary strategy, Specific Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that nicotine induces EndoMT using an endothelial reporter atherosclerosis mouse model.

R41HL170875 STTR Phase I (Lee/Huang) 9/01/2023-8/31/2024              
NIH / NHLBI                                                                                       
Novel Highly Regenerative and Scalable Progenitor Cell Exosomes for Treating Peripheral Artery Disease 
The objective is to test the efficacy of exosomes derived from pluripotent stem cells for treatment of peripheral arterial disease in a mouse model.

R21 HL172096-01  (McCloskey/Huang) 12/15/23-11/30/25         
NIH / NHLBI                                                                                       
Biomaterials for delivery and maintenance of tip endothelial cells
We will compare the ability of pluripotent stem cell-derived tip endothelial cells (ECs) versus non-tip ECs to rescue the muscle in a hindlimb ischemic mouse model. For delivery, we employ spatially nanopatterned collagen biomaterial scaffolds to enhance cell survival after transplantation into the ischemic limb. Lastly, we will incorporate placental growth factor (PIGF) mRNA delivery from aligned nanopatterned collagen biomaterials to support the release of PlGF protein for maintaining the angiogenic phenotype of tip ECs, and/or directing in vivo the differentiation of stalk to tip ECs.

PR230446 PRMRP Discovery Award (Huang, PI) 1/1/24-12/31/25         
Department of Defense                                                                     
Application of electrical current for promoting lymphatic regeneration                      
The objective is to employ electrical currents and collagen scaffolds for stimulating lymphatic regeneration in a rat model of lymphedema.

Read more about Dr. Ngan Huang's grants and awards.