Investigating how exosomes help heal wounds in diabetes
Official title: Exosomes in wound healing
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10911820 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny particles called exosomes help skin cells and immune cells work together to heal chronic wounds in people with diabetes, aiming to find ways to improve healing when inflammation gets stuck.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $333,550 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129592-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911820 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with chronic diabetic wounds that are not healing properly.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetes or those with acute wounds may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of exosomes, which are tiny vesicles released by cells, in the healing of chronic wounds, particularly in patients with diabetes. The study aims to explore how keratinocytes, a type of skin cell, communicate with macrophages, immune cells that help in wound healing, through these exosomes. By examining the genetic information carried by exosomes, the researchers hope to identify why inflammation stalls in diabetic wounds and how this process can be improved. The research will involve laboratory experiments to analyze the interaction between keratinocyte-derived exosomes and macrophages in diabetic conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that enhance wound healing in diabetic patients, reducing complications and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using exosomes for wound healing, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghatak, Subhadip — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Ghatak, Subhadip
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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.