Regenerative Medicine Minnesota (RMM) has awarded funding to 10 high-impact projects aimed at accelerating the development of breakthrough therapies that restore, replace, or regenerate damaged cells, tissues, and organs.
The 2026 awards are advancing innovative therapeutic approaches alongside critical tools and technologies that improve how these therapies are discovered, developed, and delivered to patients. These projects build on Minnesota’s strengths in regenerative medicine while targeting key challenges that must be overcome to bring transformative therapies to patients faster. To learn more about these projects see here.
Gene Therapy to Treat Neurofibromatosis using a Foamy Viral Vector - David Deyle, Mayo Clinic
OPROTAC Degraders of C/EBPα to Promote AT2 Regeneration and Lung Repair - Douglas Brownfield, Mayo Clinic
Molecular Therapies for Alport Syndrome and Chronic Kidney Disease - Michael Barry, Mayo Clinic
Harnessing the Regenerative Microenvironment of the Liver Surface: A Perihepatic Niche for Stem Cell Integration and Survival - Melanie Graham, University of Minnesota and Quinn Peterson, Mayo Clinic
Engineering Human Heart Models to Advance Minnesota-Grown Therapeutics and Prevent Radiotherapy-Induced Cardiac Degeneration - Andrew Khalil, Brenda Ogle, and Anna Kellner, University of Minnesota
Bispecific T-cell Engager for Immune Reset in Systemic Sclerosis - Andres Crane, Luminary Therapeutics
Physically Optimized Immune Cell Therapy for Fibrotic Disease - Paolo Provenzano, University of Minnesota
Phenotypic Biosensors for Testing Cellular Fitness and Disease Risk using Tissue- Specific iPSC Organoids - Jonathan Sachs, University of Minnesota
Manufacturing and Testing of Tissue-Engineered Pre-Aligned Muscle Fibers for Regenerative Therapies - Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari, University of Minnesota
Cryopreservation of Human 3D-engineered Heart Tissue (3D-EHT) for Myocardial Regenerative Therapy - Bhairab Singh, John Bischof, and Brenda Ogle, University of Minnesota
Together these projects advance Regenerative Medicine Minnesota’s goal to accelerate the availability of safe, effective, and accessible regenerative therapies to patients in Minnesota and beyond while also strengthening Minnesota’s leadership in a field poised to redefine the future of medicine.
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