Turning harmful shoulder fat into healing beige fat with targeted nanomedicine
Official title: Browning of fatty infiltration in rotator cuff tears using novel nanotherapeutics for improved healing, regeneration, and functional outcomes
Funded at University of Texas San Antonio · NIH-11340501 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses tiny medicine-filled nanoparticles to turn the harmful fat that builds up in torn shoulder muscles into healing, energy-burning fat to help people recover after rotator cuff tears.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas San Antonio NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $602,113 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AR087398-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11340501 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic or large rotator cuff tears who show fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus muscle and who are candidates for surgical repair or regenerative treatments would be the most likely beneficiaries.
✕Less likely to help
People with small acute tears without fatty infiltration, severely atrophied muscles where damage is irreversible, or those who cannot receive localized treatments are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
When the rotator cuff tears, fatty tissue can invade the shoulder muscle and block proper healing, so this project aims to convert that white fat into beige/brown fat that supports repair. Researchers will create and deliver novel nanotherapeutics directly to the injured supraspinatus muscle in preclinical models to trigger fat browning and reduce inflammation. Treated and untreated models will be compared over time to measure changes in fat type, muscle regeneration, and shoulder function. The approach focuses on localized therapy to avoid whole-body drugs or complex gene editing methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce fatty scarring in torn shoulder muscles and improve healing, strength, and function after rotator cuff repair.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies support the idea that browning fat can aid muscle repair, but previous methods relied on gene edits, cell transplants, or systemic drugs, making this targeted nanotherapeutic approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas San Antonio
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Giambini, Hugo — University of Texas San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Giambini, Hugo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Meltblown scaffolds to help irreparable rotator cuff tears
A new 3-D biomaterial scaffold made from meltblown technology aims to improve interposition grafts for people with irreparable rotator cuff tears.
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Predicting How Exercise Helpful Rotator Cuff Tears Will Turn Out
Aimed at people with rotator cuff tears, the grant investigates how a personalized exercise program might lead to better shoulder function and fewer surgeries.
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Nervous system role in recovering from painful rotator cuff tears
This project looks at how brain and nervous system factors influence recovery and pain after rotator cuff tears to help tailor treatments for people suffering from this condition.
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Biomusculoskeletal drivers of shoulder pain in rotator cuff tears
A research project will explore why some people with a torn rotator cuff have pain and others don’t by looking at nerves, brain signals, and shoulder muscle control.
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Genetic links to rotator cuff tears and muscle fatty change
This project looks for genetic differences that raise the risk of rotator cuff tears, lead to fatty changes in shoulder muscles, and influence outcomes after surgery or physical therapy for people with atraumatic rotator cuff tears.
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Who will benefit from shoulder exercise therapy for rotator cuff tears
This project aims to find which people with rotator cuff tears do well with personalized exercise-based shoulder therapy.
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.