Understanding how sweat glands form to help regrow them after burns
Molecular Mechanisms in Sweat Gland Development
Researchers are uncovering the cells and signals that build sweat glands so people who lost sweating after severe burns could someday regain control of body temperature.
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 ID | NIH-11323176 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use mouse models, lab-grown skin cells, and tissue explants to reproduce how sweat glands form. They will apply high-resolution imaging, cell sorting, single-cell RNA sequencing, and ATAC-seq to map which genes and chromatin signals guide skin stem cells to become ducts or glands. Microengineered systems and genetic tools will test how mechanical and molecular cues shape gland development. The goal is to produce a clear blueprint that could guide future stem-cell or regenerative treatments for patients with sweat loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future clinical work would be people who have lost sweating function after severe burns and are seeking regenerative treatment options.
Not a fit: People whose temperature problems stem from nerve disorders or other non-gland causes, or those without sweat-gland damage, may not directly benefit from this line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point the way to therapies that regenerate sweat glands and restore temperature control for people with severe burn-related sweating loss.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies identified sweat gland stem cells, but combining mouse genetics with single-cell RNA and ATAC sequencing and microengineering to map gland morphogenesis is relatively new and not yet translated to patients.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Catherine Pei-Ju — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lu, Catherine Pei-Ju
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 below.