Faster genetic tools to understand how skin stem cells and their support cells interact
Rapid functional genetics to study stem cell-niche interactions in the skin
This project builds faster genetic tools to change gene activity in mouse skin cells so researchers can learn how support cells control stem cells, aiming to help people with hair loss and other skin conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249137 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating adeno-associated viral (AAV) toolkits to turn genes on or off quickly in specific dermal cell types in mice, including fibroblasts and the dermal papilla. They will pair these tools with single-cell sequencing (SHARE-seq) to read how individual cells respond when a gene is modified. The goal is to identify key genes that drive skin development and regeneration that are hard to find with slower genetic methods. The team plans to share these toolkits so other labs can use them to speed up discoveries relevant to skin disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this work is lab-based and does not enroll patients, people with hair loss (alopecia) or chronic wound problems would be the types of patients who might benefit from future human studies based on these findings.
Not a fit: Patients whose skin problems are driven mainly by infections, allergies, or immune conditions unrelated to stem cell–niche biology are unlikely to see direct benefits in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed discovery of genes and pathways that lead to new treatments for hair loss, wound healing, and other skin disorders.
How similar studies have performed: AAV delivery and single-cell sequencing have been used successfully in mouse skin before, but creating broadly usable, rapid AAV toolkits across many dermal cell types is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Harvard University — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hsu, Ya-Chieh — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Hsu, Ya-Chieh
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 below.