Genetic change behind unusually fast, low-scar skin healing
Role of the FAAH-OUT locus in cutaneous wound healing
Researchers are studying a rare genetic deletion found in one woman that seems to make her skin heal much faster and with less scarring to find clues that could help people with chronic wounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141844 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows a 69-year-old woman whose wounds heal very quickly with minimal scarring after researchers found an ~8 kb deletion that removes a long noncoding RNA called FAAH OUT. The team will analyze her normal and wounded skin using spatial transcriptomics and in situ hybridization to see which cells and signals are different. They will use xenograft skin repair models and molecular assays to map the genes and pathways that interact with the FAAH OUT locus. The overall aim is to turn insights from this human genetic case into new targets for therapies that improve wound repair.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic or slow-healing skin wounds, or those willing to provide skin biopsy samples, may be eligible for related tissue-based studies at the UC Irvine site.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly because the project is early-stage, mechanism-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new molecular targets for therapies that speed healing and reduce scarring, benefiting people with chronic or slow-healing wounds.
How similar studies have performed: Using rare human genetic findings to reveal therapeutic targets has produced treatments in other areas, but applying this approach to a long noncoding RNA in wound healing is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Bryan — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Sun, Bryan
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.