How skin cells orient when they divide to keep skin and hair healthy
Spindle Orientation in Skin Development and Homeostasis
Researchers are working to understand how skin cells line up during division to protect skin structure, support hair growth, and reduce abnormal tissue overgrowth that can lead to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145717 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They are studying the tiny 'spindle' machinery that tells skin cells which way to divide, using genetic and molecular tools in laboratory models. The team will use novel mouse models and cell biology experiments to see how specific proteins generate forces on microtubules to orient cell division. They will examine how correct division helps hair follicles form and how misorientation can allow tissue overgrowth or increase risk of skin cancer. The work aims to connect these molecular details to hair development and adult skin maintenance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with skin conditions involving abnormal cell growth, early-stage epidermal cancers, or hair growth problems would be most relevant for future studies or trials that build on these findings.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to skin structure or hair biology are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic, skin-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to prevent or treat abnormal skin growth, hair disorders, and help reduce risk of certain skin cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has identified some proteins that control spindle orientation and the team has preliminary data pointing to new regulators, but the detailed force-generating mechanisms are largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lechler, Terry H — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Lechler, Terry H
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.