Investigating gene markers that affect healing in diabetic foot ulcers
Official title: Inflammation-related gene biomarkers in human diabetic foot ulcer healing
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11166816 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how inflammation affects the healing of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, and it's creating a special test to help doctors understand how well these wounds are healing so they can provide better, personalized care for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 4, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $445,814 |
| NIH project number | 3R33DK131917-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166816 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are diabetic patients who are experiencing foot ulcers and are at risk of impaired healing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have diabetic foot ulcers or those with other unrelated conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how inflammation impacts the healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), which affect a significant number of diabetic patients. The team is developing a composite biomarker called the Inflammation Index, which measures the balance between early-stage pro-inflammatory genes and late-stage resolution genes over a four-week period. By tracking changes in this index, the research aims to predict how well a wound is healing and identify patients who may need different treatment approaches. This could lead to more personalized care for individuals suffering from DFUs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved healing outcomes for patients with diabetic foot ulcers, potentially reducing the need for amputations.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have shown promising results with the Inflammation Index, indicating that similar approaches have been successful in predicting healing outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spiller, Kara Lorraine — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Spiller, Kara Lorraine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving Diabetic Foot Ulcer Offloading with User-Friendly Cast Walker Design
A small pilot study to see how different removable cast walker designs affect daily use and healing of diabetic foot ulcers.
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Home-based exercise to help Veterans recover after healed diabetic foot ulcers
A home-based exercise program for Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer to improve walking and daily function.
-
Wound fluid test to predict healing in diabetic foot ulcers
This project looks for chemical signals in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers that could tell adults with diabetes whether a wound will heal with standard care or need a different treatment.
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Identifying biomarkers in wound fluid for diabetic foot ulcers
This study is looking at special substances in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers to see if they can help doctors predict how well the wounds will heal, which could lead to better and more personalized treatments for people with these types of wounds.
-
Home exercise program to help Veterans recover after a recently healed diabetic foot ulcer
A home-based exercise program designed to help Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer regain strength, mobility, and independence.
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Understanding Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing
This project aims to find a way to predict how well diabetic foot ulcers will heal by looking at specific markers related to inflammation.
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.