Understanding Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing
Official title: Inflammation-related gene biomarkers in human diabetic foot ulcer healing
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11121939 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to find a way to predict how well diabetic foot ulcers will heal by looking at specific markers related to inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 4, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $469,861 |
| NIH project number | 5R33DK131917-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121939 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with diabetic foot ulcers who are undergoing treatment would be ideal candidates for this type of research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetic foot ulcers or those whose ulcers are already fully healed would not directly benefit from this specific prediction method.
What this research studies
Diabetic foot ulcers are a serious problem for many people with diabetes, often leading to amputations. We know that ongoing inflammation plays a big role in why these wounds don't heal properly. Our team has developed a special "Inflammation Index" that measures changes in certain genes over time. This index helps us understand if a wound is moving towards healing or if inflammation is getting worse. By tracking this index, we hope to better predict which ulcers will heal and which ones might need different care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify early on which diabetic foot ulcers are likely to heal and which ones need more aggressive treatment to prevent complications like amputation.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies involving 3 groups of 21 subjects have shown promising results, correctly predicting healing outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spiller, Kara Lorraine — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Spiller, Kara Lorraine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving Diabetic Foot Ulcer Offloading with User-Friendly Cast Walker Design
A small pilot study to see how different removable cast walker designs affect daily use and healing of diabetic foot ulcers.
-
Home-based exercise to help Veterans recover after healed diabetic foot ulcers
A home-based exercise program for Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer to improve walking and daily function.
-
Wound fluid test to predict healing in diabetic foot ulcers
This project looks for chemical signals in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers that could tell adults with diabetes whether a wound will heal with standard care or need a different treatment.
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Identifying biomarkers in wound fluid for diabetic foot ulcers
This study is looking at special substances in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers to see if they can help doctors predict how well the wounds will heal, which could lead to better and more personalized treatments for people with these types of wounds.
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Investigating gene markers that affect healing in diabetic foot ulcers
This study is looking at how inflammation affects the healing of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, and it's creating a special test to help doctors understand how well these wounds are healing so they can provide better, personalized care for patients.
-
Home exercise program to help Veterans recover after a recently healed diabetic foot ulcer
A home-based exercise program designed to help Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer regain strength, mobility, and independence.
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.