Jagged1 therapy to regrow skull and facial bone
Jagged1-based craniofacial bone regeneration
Trying to use a natural bone-building protein called Jagged1 to help children with missing skull or facial bone regrow bone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11313826 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are engineering a Jagged1-based treatment and testing it in the lab and in animal models that mimic the craniofacial bone loss seen in Alagille syndrome. They aim to deliver Jagged1 and measure whether it triggers mineralization and new bone through non-canonical Notch signaling. This work builds on earlier lab and animal findings and avoids adult-only approaches like BMP2 that raise safety concerns in children. The team’s goal is to develop a safe regenerative option to reduce the need for bone graft harvests and repeat surgeries in pediatric patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with congenital or traumatic skull or facial bone defects—for example those with Alagille syndrome or post-injury bone loss—would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with only soft-tissue facial problems, those with active bone infection or cancer, or adults until safety is established may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could let children rebuild craniofacial bone without taking bone from elsewhere, reducing pain, hospital time, and the need for repeat surgeries.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory and animal studies show Jagged1 can stimulate bone formation, but translating Jagged1 into clinical use for children is novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drissi, Moulay Hicham — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Drissi, Moulay Hicham
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.