Abstract: High mobility group A1 (Hmga1) chromatin remodeling proteins are enriched in intestinal stem cells (ISCs), although their function in this setting was unknown. The present invention describes a method of producing a genetically modified organoid comprising the following steps: isolating a crypt of the small intestine; culturing a portion of the crypt in a culture medium; forming an organoid; and transducing the organoid with a vector comprising Hmga1. Methods using genetically modified organoids to treat or prevent injuries including cancer are described.