Investigating how exosomes help heal wounds in diabetes

Exosomes in wound healing

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10911820

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10911820 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with chronic diabetic wounds that are not healing properly.

Not a fit: Patients without diabetes or those with acute wounds may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: Previous research has shown promising results in using exosomes for wound healing, suggesting that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.