Smoking and the rotator cuff tendon-to-bone attachment
Effects of Smoking on the Rotator Cuff Tendon-Bone Enthesis
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · CLEMSON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11176130
This project looks at how cigarette smoke harms the tendon-to-bone connection in the rotator cuff to help people with rotator cuff injuries heal better.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CLEMSON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CLEMSON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11176130 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers expose rats to realistic cigarette smoke in a custom-built smoking chamber to mimic human smoking patterns. They use high-resolution 2-photon imaging, small-scale structural analyses, and mechanical testing to measure changes at the tendon-to-bone enthesis. Computational models are combined with the experimental data to link microscopic damage to weaker tendon-bone mechanics. Findings aim to explain why smokers heal more poorly after rotator cuff injury and guide future treatments or prevention strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The grant does not enroll people now, but its findings are most relevant to adults with rotator cuff disease, especially those who smoke or have a history of smoking.
Not a fit: People without rotator cuff problems or whose injuries are unrelated to smoking are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal how smoking weakens the tendon-bone attachment and inform better prevention, surgical decisions, or therapies for people with rotator cuff tears.
How similar studies have performed: Clinical and animal studies have linked smoking to poorer tendon healing, but using a realistic smoke-exposure chamber together with 2-photon imaging and computational biomechanics is a relatively novel, integrative approach.
Where this research is happening
CLEMSON, UNITED STATES
- CLEMSON UNIVERSITY — CLEMSON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MENG, ZHAOXU — CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MENG, ZHAOXU
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.