How fingertip tissues regain their shape when they regrow
Composite tissue patterning in mammalian digit tip regeneration
Looks at how cells and signals—especially from the nail—help fingertip tissues regrow with the right shape for people who lose part of a finger.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11312621 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you've lost part of a fingertip, this research uses mouse models to learn how the different cell types at the injury site coordinate to rebuild bone, skin, and nail. The team studies the blastema, a mass of growing cells that forms after amputation, and focuses on signals coming from the nail epithelium that may guide proper top-bottom and tip-base patterning. Researchers use genetic and molecular tools to follow cells, turn genes on or off, and map how tissues organize during regrowth. The work aims to identify the molecular cues that make regenerated fingertip tissues form in the correct shape.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with partial fingertip amputations who are interested in regenerative approaches would be the most relevant candidates for future clinical work based on this project.
Not a fit: Individuals with large amputations through the hand, severe crush injuries that destroy the nail bed, or chronic wounds that prevent normal healing may not see direct benefit from these findings in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to ways to encourage better fingertip regrowth or guide future therapies that restore shape and function after amputation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows mice and some other animals can regrow digit tips and that nail tissue influences regrowth, but the detailed tissue-patterning mechanisms in mammals remain novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lehoczky, Jessica a — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lehoczky, Jessica a
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.