How thyroid hormones help muscles heal after injury
Official title: Thyroid hormone signaling in skeletal muscle regeneration
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-11257278 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether thyroid hormones can help muscle stem cells repair injured muscle, with an eye toward adults and veterans who suffer severe muscle injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX006245-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11257278 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have experienced severe skeletal muscle injury—such as from accidents, combat, or surgery—or those at high risk for poor muscle healing could be the eventual candidates for related clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
People with mild strains, conditions unrelated to muscle stem cell failure, or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this early lab- and animal-based research.
What this research studies
If you have a severe muscle injury, researchers want to learn how thyroid hormones help muscle stem cells repair damaged tissue. They will study these signals using lab-grown muscle cells and mouse injury models to see how the thyroid hormone receptor THRA and the partner protein COUP-TFII control stem cell growth and differentiation. The team will use new 3-D cell systems and in vivo mouse models to mimic real muscle damage. The goal is to find molecular targets that could eventually lead to treatments that boost muscle healing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new drug targets or therapies that boost muscle stem cells and improve healing after severe injuries, reducing long-term disability.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory and animal studies indicate thyroid hormones influence muscle stem cell behavior, but translating those findings into effective human therapies remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Milanesi, Anna — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Milanesi, Anna
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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.