Understanding how sweat glands form and work to help burn and skin injury patients
Official title: Genetic and Cellular Mechanisms of Engrailed 1 Regulation and Function in Eccrine Sweat Gland Development
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11628807 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at the University of Pennsylvania looks at how sweat glands develop and function, with the goal of informing treatments for people who suffer traumatic skin injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $499,813 |
| NIH project number | 2R56AR077690-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11628807 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with traumatic skin injuries or burns where eccrine gland function is compromised may be eligible for future translational studies or therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those with non-skin-related conditions may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project explores the genetic signals that guide skin cells to become eccrine sweat glands, which are essential for cooling the body. By studying the Engrailed 1 gene and other molecular players, researchers hope to map how eccrine glands form and why they sometimes fail to regenerate after injury. The findings could reveal targets to promote gland repair or regeneration after burns and severe skin damage. Patients with difficult-to-heal skin injuries may potentially benefit from future therapies derived from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new approaches for repairing damaged sweat glands and improving thermoregulation after injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified key genetic regulators of eccrine development, with ongoing exploration needed to translate findings into therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kamberov, Yana G — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kamberov, Yana G
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.