Creating tailored exosomes to help heal severe muscle injuries
Official title: Bioengineering of Customized Exosomes as a Cell-free Therapy for Volumetric Muscle Loss Injuries Proposal
Funded at Cleveland State University · NIH-10937296 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help people recover from muscle loss due to injury or surgery by using specially designed tiny particles made from fat cells, which could make healing easier and more effective without the risks of traditional treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $74,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R03EB036096-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10937296 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from volumetric muscle loss due to trauma or surgical procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with muscle loss due to non-traumatic causes or those who do not have significant muscle tissue loss may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing customized exosomes, which are tiny vesicles that can promote muscle regeneration, as a new treatment for volumetric muscle loss (VML) caused by trauma or surgery. The approach involves using adipose-derived stem cells that are stimulated in a controlled manner to enhance the production of these exosomes. By engineering these exosomes, the research aims to improve their effectiveness in regenerating muscle tissue without the complications associated with traditional cell-based therapies. Patients may benefit from a novel, less invasive treatment option that could lead to better recovery outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a groundbreaking cell-free therapy that significantly improves recovery from severe muscle injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using extracellular vesicles for regenerative medicine, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sikder, Prabaha — Cleveland State University
- Study coordinator: Sikder, Prabaha
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.