Understanding how skin cells exchange harmful chemicals to cause injury and wound repair
Official title: Understanding mechanisms of cell-cell exchange of topically exposed chemicals of concern provoking human skin injury, hypodermal damage, and wound disrepair
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11451670 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to uncover how certain chemical agents damage human skin and what happens in the early stages of blistering and inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $235,510 |
| NIH project number | 1R34AR087022-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11451670 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals whose skin tissue could be used for ex vivo models, such as donors providing ethically consented skin specimens for research.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to tissue donation opportunities or those not involved in tissue-based research may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The study uses a novel ex vivo human skin model from full-thickness tissue to study how vesicants and corrosive agents disrupt skin structure. Researchers will map early events leading to blistering, focusing on keratinocyte-derived exosomes, mast cell activation, and proteolysis of skin proteins. The work combines advanced biology with human tissue to better explain why injuries progress and persist. This could pave the way for targeted therapies to reduce damage and promote healing after exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could guide new treatments to lessen skin injury from chemical exposures and speed recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ex vivo skin models have shown promise in replicating human skin responses more accurately than animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghatak, Subhadip — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Ghatak, Subhadip
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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.