Preventing bed sores in nursing homes by finding early skin changes
Official title: Biophysical detection of skin changes to cue pressure injury prevention in nursing homes
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11137082 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing a new way to find early skin changes that could lead to bed sores, helping nursing home residents avoid these painful injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $782,106 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR020487-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137082 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are nursing home residents who are at risk for developing pressure injuries or bed sores.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not residing in nursing homes or those not at risk for pressure injuries would not directly benefit from this specific prevention strategy.
What this research studies
Bed sores, also known as pressure injuries, are painful and dangerous skin injuries that often affect nursing home residents. This project uses a special tool called subepidermal moisture (SEM) assessment, which can find early signs of skin damage before it's visible to the eye. By detecting these changes sooner, nursing staff can take action to prevent bed sores from forming. This new method is especially helpful for people with darker skin tones, where early skin discoloration is harder to see, helping to reduce health differences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce the number of painful and dangerous bed sores experienced by nursing home residents, improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: This approach introduces an innovative biophysical measurement to existing prevention strategies, aiming to improve upon current methods of early detection.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bates-Jensen, Barbara M. — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Bates-Jensen, Barbara M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized prediction of pressure sores after spinal cord injury
This project will use body measures, muscle fat levels, and genetic information to predict which people with spinal cord injury are most likely to develop pressure sores so prevention can be personalized.
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Automated bedside screening to detect pressure injuries across diverse patients
A pragmatic, automated method using thermal imaging to help nurses spot pressure injuries early for a wide range of patients.
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Implanted biomimetic device to prevent pressure injuries in people with spinal cord injury
A implanted, battery-powered device would provide automatic weight shifting to help prevent pressure injuries in people with spinal cord injury who have limited mobility.
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Identifying risk factors for pressure injuries in people with spinal cord injuries
This study is looking into why some people with spinal cord injuries get pressure injuries while others don’t, and it aims to find ways to predict who might be at risk so that we can help them stay healthy and improve their quality of life.
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Preventing pressure injuries after spinal cord injury with a clinic decision tool
A short questionnaire plus a provider report to help Veterans with spinal cord injury spot and prevent pressure sores.
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Detecting skin changes to prevent pressure injuries in nursing homes
This study is looking at a new way to spot early signs of pressure injuries in nursing home residents by measuring moisture just under the skin, helping caregivers take action before any damage happens, especially for those with darker skin tones.
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.