Fatty scarring in severe leg ischemia
Official title: The role of fatty fibrosis in chronic limb threatening ischemia pathobiology
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11253308 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are seeing whether changing a cell signal called Hedgehog can reduce fat and scar tissue in calf muscles and help people with severe poor blood flow to the leg regain better blood flow and muscle function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $672,642 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL171050-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11253308 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic limb threatening ischemia or severe peripheral artery disease who can provide tissue samples or may be eligible for future therapies targeting Hedgehog signaling are the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without CLTI or whose limb problems are caused by non-ischemic conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
This project focuses on chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI), a severe form of peripheral artery disease where muscle is replaced by intramuscular fat and scar. Investigators will use advanced mouse models that switch Hedgehog signaling on or off in specific cell types alongside experiments on human muscle samples and patient-derived cells. They will measure blood flow, new blood vessel growth, and muscle function to link the cellular changes to limb performance. Together the animal and translational studies aim to reveal how intramuscular fat forms and whether altering Hedgehog signaling can limit or reverse fatty fibrosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new treatments that reduce muscle fat and scarring and improve blood flow and function in people with severe peripheral artery disease.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical mouse studies and early translational experiments in human tissues suggest Hedgehog pathway changes can alter fatty fibrosis and perfusion, but clinical patient benefit has not yet been demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryan, Terence E — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Ryan, Terence E
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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.