Stem-like cells that repair the colon
Stem Cell Dynamics in Colonic Epithelial Repair
The team is exploring how special stem-like cells help the colon heal, with the goal of helping people who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11298731 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use advanced three-dimensional tissue imaging (Deep Mucosal Imaging) and mouse models of colitis to watch how the colon lining regenerates after injury. They discovered a new group of injury-induced cells called founder progenitor cells (FPCs) that can clonally rebuild many crypts. The project combines imaging, cell lineage tracing, and molecular profiling — including RNA splicing signatures — to find the signals that create FPCs. Understanding those pathways could point to ways to boost mucosal healing in IBD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) who have mucosal ulcers or impaired colonic healing would be the most relevant candidates for future related clinical work.
Not a fit: Patients without colonic mucosal injury or whose conditions are unrelated to epithelial wound healing are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that promote faster and more complete mucosal healing in people with IBD.
How similar studies have performed: Prior mouse lineage-tracing and imaging studies have identified repair-capable cell types, but translating these findings into human therapies remains largely untested and is still novel.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Polk, D Brent — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Polk, D Brent
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.