How skin cells control the genes that keep skin healthy
REGULATORS OF EPIDERMAL GENE EXPRESSION
Looks at how specific proteins inside skin cells control growth and the skin barrier for people with psoriasis, eczema, or skin cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261043 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at Stanford are exploring proteins that regulate RNA and protein modification in skin cells to understand how the epidermis stays balanced. They have already identified several RNA-binding proteins (HNRNPs) and ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs) that push skin cells toward growth or toward differentiation. In the lab they delete or alter these proteins and use UV crosslinking plus mass spectrometry and other molecular tools to map which proteins bind to key mRNAs and how those assemblies change cell behavior. The goal is to link these molecular assemblies to how skin renews and forms a protective barrier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), or certain skin cancers who are willing to donate small skin samples or participate in related clinical specimen studies would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with health problems unrelated to skin growth or barrier function are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this mechanistic lab-focused work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for therapies that restore healthy skin barrier and control abnormal skin growth in conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds on prior laboratory findings from the same team that already identified key HNRNP and UBL regulators in epidermal biology, but translating those findings into treatments remains early.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khavari, Paul — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Khavari, Paul
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.