Understanding how skin layers coordinate healing after injury
Official title: Multilayer coordination of stratified epithelial wound closure
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11499214 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how different layers of adult skin coordinate rapid healing after injury to prevent infection and chronic wounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $165,219 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AR088908-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11499214 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or recovering from skin or mucosal injuries may benefit from improved healing strategies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without wounds may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how stratified squamous epithelium in adult skin, including areas like the skin, cornea, and oral mucosa, repairs itself after damage. Using both live and experimental tissue models in adult zebrafish skin, it will examine how the actomyosin cytoskeleton in basal, suprabasal, and superficial layers contributes to wound closure. The study aims to map layer-specific cell movements and molecular signals that drive coordinated repair, addressing gaps left by embryonic models. Findings could reveal targets to improve healing in human tissues prone to slow or faulty repair.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of wound healing may lead to new approaches to speed up healing and reduce infection in human skin and mucosal tissues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown actomyosin dynamics are important for wound closure in animal models, with zebrafish serving as a relevant system for SSE repair.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rasmussen, Jeffrey Philip — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Rasmussen, Jeffrey Philip
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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.