Hippo signaling and scarring in scleroderma
Official title: Role of the Hippo pathway in scleroderma pathogenesis
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11239132 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether blocking a cell signal called the Hippo pathway can reduce the skin and organ scarring that affects people with scleroderma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | January 19, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $601,644 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI183620-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11239132 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) who can provide skin samples and attend clinic visits at the research center.
✕Less likely to help
People without systemic sclerosis or those unable to provide skin samples or travel to the study site are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will study skin and blood vessel cells from people with scleroderma using single-cell sequencing to find which cells make scar tissue. They will focus on myofibroblasts, endothelial cells that convert into scar-producing cells, and a specific immune cell type called LAMP3+ dendritic cells that may trigger these changes. In the lab they will use genetic tools (siRNA) and drugs that inhibit Hippo pathway signals to see if those cell transitions and collagen production can be blocked. The team aims to identify molecular targets that could lead to new treatments to reduce fibrosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to stop or reduce the skin and organ scarring that causes disability in scleroderma.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory and animal studies have linked Hippo signaling to fibrosis and autoimmunity, but this approach has not yet produced proven therapies for people with scleroderma.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gudjonsson, Johann Eli — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Gudjonsson, Johann Eli
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Angiogenesis imaging in scleroderma to track digital ulcers
A patient-friendly look at using a special imaging tracer to watch blood vessel growth in the hands of people with scleroderma to help manage digital ulcers.
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Cell-level clues to skin scarring in systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma
A study at the University of Pittsburgh is looking at how skin cells and their helpers change at the DNA level in adults and children with systemic sclerosis to find new targets to reduce scarring.
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Pediatric Scleroderma: Mapping Cells and Tissues to Personalize Care
A study will map the different cell types and tissue patterns in skin from children with scleroderma to identify patient-specific disease subtypes that could guide targeted therapies.
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CD38 and NAD metabolism in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) fibrosis
This grant explores how changes in NAD metabolism related to CD38 and NNMT may drive scarring in systemic sclerosis and tests new ways to stop it.
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ISG15-positive monocytes and SPP1 macrophages in scleroderma lung disease
This grant studies a specific immune cell pathway in systemic sclerosis with lung scarring to help predict how the disease progresses.
-
Autoantibodies define scleroderma subgroups with distinct cancer links
Researchers are studying how specific autoantibodies in scleroderma patients relate to cancer timing and risk.
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.