Helping tissues and organs heal better after injury
Official title: Regulating parenchymal repair in wound healing
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11325388 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to boost adult tissue cells' ability to renew themselves so wounds and organ injuries heal more fully with less scarring.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $412,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM154942-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325388 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with wounds, organ injuries, or fibrotic conditions where improved tissue repair could restore function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with entirely irreversible organ loss, certain genetic diseases that block cell renewal, or conditions unrelated to tissue repair may not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers are studying why adult tissue cells stop renewing themselves after birth and looking for ways to restore that renewal to improve healing. They will use lab experiments on cells and animal models to map the molecular switches that limit repair and then try strategies to turn those switches back on in injured adult tissues. The team plans to test biological approaches that could reduce fibrotic scarring and recover organ function. Findings could guide future treatments or clinical trials to help people with wounds or organ damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to therapies that reduce scarring and help damaged organs and tissues recover their function.
How similar studies have gone: Related research shows strong regeneration in neonatal tissues and organs like the liver, but deliberately reactivating adult tissue self-renewal is still largely experimental and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'shea, Timothy Mark — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: O'shea, Timothy Mark
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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.