Neural signals in surgical wound healing and how regional anesthesia changes them
Official title: Neuroimmune signaling in surgical wound healing and modulation by regional anesthesia
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11377380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how nerve signals and the immune system interact after surgery and how regional anesthesia might improve healing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $397,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150680-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377380 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients undergoing surgical procedures with incisions that would benefit from optimized healing and reduced inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
This basic science research uses animal models; direct patient benefit requires later translation and clinical testing.
What this research studies
This project explores how sensory nerve fibers and immune cells communicate during wound repair after surgery, focusing on nonpeptidergic neurons and a molecule called MD-1. The team uses knockout mice to understand how MD-1 from specific nerve cells might reduce inflammation and influence healing. By mapping these neural-immune pathways, they hope to identify ways to improve recovery after incision, potentially guiding anesthesia choices. The work builds on existing data from gene studies to pinpoint targets that could modulate inflammation and speed healing in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new strategies to reduce postoperative inflammation and improve incision healing, potentially shortening recovery times for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows neural-immune interactions influence wound healing, but this study investigates a novel nonpeptidergic pathway involving MD-1 in MrgprD neurons, which is less explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ritter Jones, Marsha Elizabeth — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Ritter Jones, Marsha Elizabeth
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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.