Improving muscle regeneration using stem cells
Official title: Modulating the Stem Cell Niche Set Point to Improve Skeletal Muscle Regeneration
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-10860851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to help your muscles heal better by using special stem cells, and it aims to find out how the environment around these cells can help them grow into healthy muscle cells, which could lead to better treatments for muscle diseases.
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 start | August 16, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $473,377 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AR084027-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10860851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with skeletal muscle diseases or conditions that impair muscle regeneration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-muscle related conditions or those who do not have any skeletal muscle diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to enhance the regeneration of skeletal muscle by using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). The team will explore the role of the stem cell niche, which is the environment that supports stem cells, in promoting the maturation of hPSC-derived muscle cells. By understanding how these cells develop and function, the researchers aim to improve their effectiveness in treating muscle diseases. The study will involve both laboratory experiments and animal models to test their hypotheses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients with skeletal muscle diseases, improving their muscle regeneration and overall quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using stem cells for muscle regeneration, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hicks, Michael Ryan — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Hicks, Michael Ryan
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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.