MBVs: Tiny Messengers in Skin, Bladder, and Tissue Repair
Official title: Defining the Role of Matrix-Bound Nanovesicles in Extracellular Matrix Formation and Wound Repair
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11382928 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how matrix-bound nanovesicles help rebuild tissue after injury, using human stem cells and 3D materials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $414,774 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM160216-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382928 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals whose tissues are prone to repair challenges (e.g., bladder or other organ tissues) or samples derived from human cells for research.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to or use of human-derived cells or tissues in related research may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores matrix-bound nanovesicles (MBVs) embedded in the extracellular matrix and how they contribute to wound repair. Scientists will use 3D collagen scaffolds and human mesenchymal stem cells to visualize MBVs and study their cargo and surface markers. The goal is to uncover whether MBVs are a universal part of extracellular matrices and how their origin affects tissue-specific healing. The study relies on advanced imaging and cell biology approaches to model human tissue repair in the lab.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could reveal new targets or materials to improve wound healing and tissue regeneration.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown MBVs carry tissue-development cargo, but this project tests fundamental roles across matrices, which is still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dewey, Marley Johnstone — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Dewey, Marley Johnstone
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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.