Investigating gene markers that affect healing in diabetic foot ulcers
Inflammation-related gene biomarkers in human diabetic foot ulcer healing
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 ID | NIH-11166816 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are diabetic patients who are experiencing foot ulcers and are at risk of impaired healing.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have diabetic foot ulcers or those with other unrelated conditions may not benefit from this research.
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 performed: 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
Philadelphia, United States
- Drexel University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spiller, Kara Lorraine — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Spiller, Kara Lorraine
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.