Understanding How Skin Cells Stay Healthy and Prevent Early Skin Changes

Mechanisms of Epidermal Homeostasis and Early Neoplasia

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-11170591

This research explores how sugar molecules in our cells help control how skin cells grow and develop, which is important for healthy skin and preventing early signs of cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-11170591 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project looks at how glucose, a type of sugar, acts like a messenger inside our cells, especially in the skin. We are learning that glucose can attach to specific proteins, changing how they work and helping skin cells develop properly. When skin cells don't develop correctly, it can lead to problems with skin health or even early stages of cancer. By understanding these fundamental processes, we hope to find new ways to keep skin healthy and prevent disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future studies building on this work might seek individuals with skin conditions or those at risk for skin cancer.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for existing conditions would not directly benefit from this basic science research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to promote healthy skin cell growth and potentially prevent or treat early skin conditions, including certain types of cancer.

How similar studies have performed: This research builds upon previous findings from the same team that identified glucose's role in controlling protein interactions during cell differentiation, suggesting a novel and promising area of investigation.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.