Hormonal signals and skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis
Official title: The Role of Hormonal Dysregulation in Systemic Sclerosis
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11401360 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how female hormones may drive skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis and exploring hormone-targeted treatments that could help people with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $186,624 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AR078372-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401360 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults with systemic sclerosis who are interested in participating in translational research linking hormones to skin fibrosis (e.g., those with measurable estrogen-related markers or related skin findings).
✕Less likely to help
Some patients may not benefit if their fibrosis is driven by pathways unrelated to estrogen signaling.
What this research studies
Systemic sclerosis can cause painful, disabling fibrosis with limited treatment options. The project looks at how estradiol and its receptors influence skin scarring in SSc, using human skin cells, animal models, and patient data to understand the biology. The team plans to identify which estrogen receptors matter, map how estrogen changes gene activity in skin, and see how hormone levels relate to clinical outcomes. If successful, this work could point to hormone-related therapies that might slow or reduce fibrosis in patients with SSc. The work is anchored at the Medical University of South Carolina with a physician-scientist leading the effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, patients with systemic sclerosis could gain new therapeutic options that target hormonal pathways to reduce fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown that sex hormones can influence fibrotic processes, but this specific estrogen-receptor–driven mechanism in human SSc is being explored for the first time.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baker Frost, Deanna — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Baker Frost, Deanna
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how a cell protein (SLC9A1) drives skin and lung scarring in systemic sclerosis
A five-year NIH grant aims to understand how a specific cell protein called SLC9A1 influences scar-forming cells in systemic sclerosis and related lung disease, with the goal of finding possible therapies.
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From proteins and genes to new treatments for scar-related lung disease
A large NIH grant is working to map the proteins in the lungs of people with systemic sclerosis to find new targets for drugs that could slow or stop lung fibrosis.
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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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Clinical-Translational Studies in Skin, Lung, and Blood Vessel Problems in Systemic Sclerosis
A NIH grant supports coordinated efforts to understand and improve health for people with systemic sclerosis and related conditions by sharing resources, data, and pilot projects at MUSC.
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Role of A20 and DREAM in fat cells and skin scarring in systemic sclerosis
A research project at the University of Michigan looks at how differences in fat tissue and blood vessels relate to skin scarring in systemic sclerosis, with the aim of finding new ways to treat or prevent fibrosis.
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Vasculopathy in Systemic Sclerosis and Lung Disease in Adults
A study in adults with systemic sclerosis will look at how blood vessels in the lungs and body relate to the development of lung disease, with the aim of finding new ways to prevent it.
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.