How skin cells stick together and shape healthy skin
Cell adhesion and tissue dynamics in the skin
['FUNDING_R37'] · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY · NIH-11184273
This work looks at how skin stem cells and their neighbors stick, push, and send signals to keep skin developing, renewing, and healing for people with skin injury, inflammatory conditions, or skin cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11184273 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers study how epidermal stem cells are set aside during development and how those cells talk to their neighbors and the surrounding matrix. They focus on adhesion molecules, the basement membrane, and the mechanical forces that guide whether cells self-renew, differentiate, or are removed. The team uses molecular biology, genetics, imaging of tissues, and model systems alongside insights from human skin to map the communication circuitry. The goal is to understand the basic cell behaviors that underlie healthy skin and how these go wrong in disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with skin injuries, chronic wounds, inflammatory skin diseases, or skin cancers are the most relevant groups for future translation of these findings.
Not a fit: People with non-skin conditions or those looking for an immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to improve wound healing, treat inflammatory skin conditions, and prevent or better understand skin cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic research on epidermal stem cells has led to advances in regenerative medicine and improved understanding of human skin syndromes, though translating those findings into therapies is still ongoing.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FUCHS, ELAINE — ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: FUCHS, ELAINE
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.