Transgenesis in a new mammalian model to study adult regeneration
Official title: Transgenesis in a novel mammalian model of adult regeneration
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11445675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A medical research project aims to create genetically modified Acomys mice to understand how adult tissues can regenerate and how this could lead to new ways to treat fibrotic diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $516,175 |
| NIH project number | 1R21OD042628-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11445675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with fibrotic or regenerative biology conditions, or healthy volunteers contributing samples for comparative studies, depending on future translational steps.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefits will depend on subsequent clinical translation and are not guaranteed by this early-stage work.
What this research studies
This project uses the spiny mouse (Acomys) as a mammalian model to develop whole-animal transgenic methods, enabling scientists to turn specific genes on or off. The goal is to uncover how certain genes influence regeneration, immunity, and aging, with the aim of identifying targets for anti-fibrosis therapies. Researchers will build new genetic tools and resources in Acomys, coordinating with existing mouse-model knowledge to bridge gaps between models and human disease. The work is foundational and could accelerate drug discovery by clarifying how regeneration pathways relate to fibrosis and chronic inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new genetic targets and strategies to prevent or reverse tissue scarring in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mouse-model transgenesis work informs this project, but applying it to Acomys is novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Millen, Kathleen Joyce — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Millen, Kathleen Joyce
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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.