Modifying BMP9 signaling to improve secondary lymphedema
Official title: Modifying bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) signaling in secondary lymphedema
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11286438 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused project aims to understand how BMP9 signaling affects lymphatic health after surgery and whether boosting BMP9 could help reduce swelling and improve function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $151,950 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AR086904-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11286438 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with secondary lymphedema or patients who have undergone surgical lymphatic disruption and are eligible for research on lymphatic regeneration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated conditions or those unable to participate in preclinical model studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
Secondary lymphedema severely impacts daily life for millions by causing persistent swelling, pain, and wounds after lymphatic disruption. The research will look at how changing BMP9 signaling changes lymphatic growth and function after surgical injury in animal models to reflect human biology. It also tests two approaches to modulate BMP9: adding BMP9 protein to boost signaling and blocking an inhibitor to sustain BMP9 activity, with the goal of improving lymphatic regeneration. This work could lead to better animal models and new directions for therapies in people with lymphedema.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide new treatments that improve lymphatic function and quality of life for people with secondary lymphedema.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work shows that signaling pathways can influence lymphatic growth; this proposal builds on that by testing BMP9-specific strategies in regeneration models.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Agarwal, Shailesh — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Agarwal, Shailesh
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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.