Primary Cilia and cAMP: Helping Fibrosis Patients Heal
Official title: Primary Cilia as a Fundamental Mediator of cAMP-Driven Fibrosis Resolution
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11438767 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH-funded project will study how a cellular signaling molecule called cAMP helps skin and organ fibroblasts stop causing scarring, with the goal of guiding future therapies for fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $378,012 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AR088190-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11438767 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a current patient-recruiting study; findings may eventually benefit people with fibrotic diseases after further development.
✕Less likely to help
Current participants are not expected to receive a direct therapy; benefits are research-focused.
What this research studies
If successful, this work will look at how specific cell signaling controls the behavior of scar-forming cells in fibrotic diseases like systemic sclerosis. Researchers will use animal models and cellular systems to understand how cAMP influences myofibroblast dedifferentiation and programmed cell death, which are key to resolving scarring. The project aims to identify mechanisms that allow damaged tissue to heal rather than progress to permanent fibrosis, potentially pointing to new treatment strategies. The study is exploratory and focused on basic biology with an eye toward translating findings into therapies for patients with fibrotic conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could reveal new targets for drugs that promote scar resolution and prevent organ fibrosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown cAMP can act as an antifibrotic mediator in fibroblasts and-mice models, supporting potential translation of these findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fortier, Sean Michael — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Fortier, Sean Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Interface between immune cells and scarring in the eye
This grant looks at how immune cells influence scar formation in the cornea after injury and how this affects vision.
-
How often to treat schistosomiasis to protect the liver
A randomized trial will test different frequencies ofPraziquantel treatment to prevent liver damage in people aged 15–40 with schistosomiasis in Uganda.
-
Metabolic changes in cells that repair blood vessels in the eye lens to prevent scarring
A drug or approach that changes how certain cells that repair blood vessels in the eye work, to prevent scarring behind the retina in age-related macular degeneration patients treated with anti-VEGF therapy.
-
Myocardial fibrosis and fat in ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project studies heart tissue changes in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who are on antiretroviral therapy, to understand why they’re at higher risk for heart problems as they age.
-
Myocardial fibrosis and fat in ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This grant studies heart tissue changes in women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa to understand why heart failure risk is higher in this group.
-
Molecular clues to progressive lung scarring
Researchers are studying how lung tissue becomes progressively scarred, focusing on cell signals and receptors that may drive fibrosis in people with lung disease.
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.