The Anderson Lab is developing new materials platforms for long-term implantable cell therapies. Current technologies are limited to low densities of cells within the implant, as crowded cells to compete for nutrients and devices must be impractically large to encapsulate therapeutically relevant cell populations. The lab’s new microscale sponge material shown here aims to tackle this challenge by providing plenty of empty space for cells to grow in, thus enhancing the oxygenation of cell constructs and creating a coral reef-like environment for cells to thrive in and extend the life of living implants.