Using Desert Hedgehog signals to protect and repair salivary glands after radiation
Salivary gland response to Desert hedgehog signaling as an antidote to damage from therapeutic radiation
Looking at whether a natural signaling protein called Desert Hedgehog can protect or help repair salivary glands damaged by radiation in adults treated for head and neck cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261536 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying how support cells around saliva-making glands help those glands recover after radiation. They use mouse models and genetic tracing to follow which cells respond, and single-cell gene readings to see which signals turn on during repair. The team focuses on a specific signal, Desert Hedgehog, that may tell the gland to heal or preserve function. The lab work aims to point toward treatments that could be tested in people in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who received radiation to the head or neck and have chronic dry mouth from salivary gland damage would be the main group likely to benefit or be eligible for future trials.
Not a fit: People whose dry mouth is caused by medications, aging alone, or conditions unrelated to radiation-induced salivary gland damage may not benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that prevent or reverse radiation-caused dry mouth, improving swallowing, taste, dental health, and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Some preclinical studies have shown Hedgehog pathway signals can aid tissue repair, but using Desert Hedgehog specifically for radiation-damaged salivary glands is relatively new and remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beachy, Philip a — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Beachy, Philip a
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.