Modeling Aging through Microphysiological Systems

Number of anticipated awards: 2 Budget (total costs, per award): Phase I: $ 400,000 for 12 months; Phase II: $ 2,250,000 for 2 years Fast Track proposals will be accepted: Yes Direct to Phase II proposals will be accepted: Yes It is strongly suggested that proposals adhere to the above budget amounts and project periods. Proposals with budgets exceeding the above amounts and project periods may not be funded. Summary: The majority of research investigating the biological mechanisms underlying normal aging process and aging-related diseases, as well as the search for geroprotectants and gerotherapeutics, has been conducted using static cell cultures and animal models that only partially recapitulate aging in humans. Microphysiological Systems (MPS), which are in vitro 3-dimensional (3-D) human tissue constructs that mimic human tissue/organ functions, could provide more translationally-relevant and cost-effective models to supplement or replace 2-D cell cultures and animal models in basic aging research and drug development. Although there are currently upward of thirty companies that are developing and commercializing MPS across a variety of healthy and diseased conditions, none of the MPS on the market to date include an aging component. This SBIR contract solicitation will invite small businesses currently working in the MPS space to create self-contained systems that maintain 3-D tissue constructs to allow for human-relevant modeling of molecular and cellular aging processes and/or drug discovery for geroprotectants and treatments for aging-related diseases.