Understanding how skin detects and closes wounds in a two-layer skin model
Official title: Physical, molecular, and cellular control of wound closure
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11387767 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how skin cells sense wounds and work together to seal them, using zebrafish embryos to learn ways to improve healing in humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $701,904 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD119925-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387767 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; findings aim to inform future therapies for wound healing.
✕Less likely to help
Currently healthy individuals may not directly benefit until translational applications are developed.
What this research studies
This project uses zebrafish embryos to watch the skin’s wound-detection systems in action, combining genetics, high-resolution imaging, and computer modeling. The team has already identified a GPCR signaling pathway active at wound margins and developed tools to visualize the machinery that generates and transmits forces in skin cells. They will map how GPCR signals trigger wound detection, explore how the outer and basal skin layers coordinate movement to close gaps, and build a physical model of two-layer skin to test with genetic perturbations. The goal is to translate these findings into insights that could guide new therapies for improved wound healing in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new strategies to enhance skin wound healing and reduce complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous imaging and genetic studies in zebrafish have provided detailed models of wound response, with ongoing efforts translating to human healing.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knaut, Holger — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Knaut, Holger
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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.