How skin cells change as they mature
Transcriptional Co-Regulators in Epidermis
This project looks at which genes and molecular switches control how adult skin cells move from the basal layer up to the outer layer, using human skin samples and lab models.
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-11048961 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will map individual skin cells to see which genes turn on or off as cells move from the basal layer to the first spinous layer. They will use single-cell and spatial transcriptomics plus ATAC-seq to identify open chromatin regions and the transcription factors involved. The team will test the role of specific gene regulators in mouse knockout models and compare those findings to adult human skin samples. Together, these methods aim to identify the molecular switches that maintain transition cells and how they may contribute to skin disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (age 21+) who can donate small skin samples or participate locally at UC Irvine, including people with or without skin conditions, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those unwilling or unable to provide skin samples, or those unable to travel to the study site are unlikely to participate or receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets that lead to better treatments or diagnostics for inflammatory or developmental skin conditions such as eczema.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq have previously mapped skin cell states successfully, but combining these with targeted transcription factor knockouts to define transition-state regulation is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andersen, Bogi — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Andersen, Bogi
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.