Regrowing the skin's pigment-producing stem cells
Cellular and molecular regulators of melanocyte regeneration
This work looks at how skin stem cells that make pigment regrow, using patient skin samples and lab models to find signals that could help restore color for people with vitiligo.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307572 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect small skin samples from people with vitiligo and use single-cell RNA sequencing to see which genes are turned on in pigment stem cells. In zebrafish, the team will follow these stem cells over time as pigment returns to learn which signals inside and outside the cells guide their fate. They will test specific pathways, including NGFR and KIT and the role of immune cells like macrophages, by manipulating them in lab models. Combining different pathway changes will show how signals work together to control pigment regeneration.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people with vitiligo who are willing to donate small skin samples or biopsies for research.
Not a fit: People not affected by pigment loss or those seeking immediate clinical treatments should not expect direct personal benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to restore skin pigment in vitiligo and suggest targets for therapies to help repigment affected skin.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell studies have previously identified important signals in pigment cells, but combining human patient sampling with live zebrafish regeneration experiments is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ceol, Craig Joseph — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Ceol, Craig Joseph
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 below.