Engineering Improved Stem Cell-Derived Islet Cells for Replacement Therapies

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has forecasted a funding opportunity to support research aimed at engineering improved stem cell-derived islet cells for use in cell replacement therapies. This initiative is designed to leverage the controlled nature of stem cell-derived islet cell production to enhance graft viability and functional outcomes for individuals requiring islet cell transplantation. This funding opportunity is motivated by the advantages of stem cell-derived islet cells over traditional cadaveric human islets. The latter are often limited by donor availability and inconsistent quality, while stem cell-derived cells are generated from standardized and highly regulated cell bank sources. This allows for the implementation of manufacturing and quality control protocols that can introduce beneficial modifications to cell properties, resulting in more robust and longer-lasting therapeutic effects. The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to stimulate the development and preclinical validation of novel engineering strategies targeting specific pathways and mechanisms to enhance the therapeutic potential of these stem cell-derived products. NIDDK encourages interdisciplinary collaborations involving stem cell biology, islet cell biology, transplant immunology, and type 1 diabetes research. Applicants with relevant experience in these domains are urged to prepare for this opportunity by forming strategic partnerships and developing well-integrated research proposals. This is a forecasted opportunity with a projected application opening date of August 1, 2025, and a closing date of October 1, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced by July 1, 2026, with project start dates aligning on the same day. The total estimated program funding is $3,000,000, with an anticipated six awards to be made. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity. Eligibility for this grant is broad and includes a wide range of U.S.-based and non-U.S. institutions. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; Native American tribal organizations and governments; for-profit and nonprofit organizations; faith-based and community-based organizations; public housing authorities; regional and non-domestic entities; and institutions of higher education (both public and private). The grant will utilize the NIH R01 activity code. For further information, applicants can contact Albert J. Hwa, PhD, at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases via phone at 301-451-1525 or email at albert.hwa@nih.gov. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for the official release of the NOFO to begin formal application preparations.

Investigators are encouraged to begin building collaborations across disciplines (stem cell biology, immunology, diabetes research) in anticipation of the NOFO release.