Using MRI and blood tests to predict healing in diabetic foot ulcers
Official title: Prognostic MRI and Blood Markers of Wound Healing in Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10914272 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to use imaging and blood tests to help predict if diabetic foot ulcers will heal well, so that people with diabetes can get better treatment and avoid serious complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $585,678 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136983-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914272 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with diabetic foot ulcers who are at risk for poor healing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetes or those who do not have foot ulcers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop new noninvasive imaging techniques and blood markers that can predict whether diabetic foot ulcers will heal properly. With over 30 million people living with diabetes in the U.S., these ulcers are a significant health concern, often leading to severe complications like limb loss. The study will analyze how inflammation and blood flow affect healing, focusing on the role of immune cells in the wound healing process. By identifying patients at risk for incomplete healing, the research hopes to improve treatment strategies and outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prediction and management of diabetic foot ulcers, potentially reducing the risk of amputations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using imaging and blood markers for other types of wounds, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reiter, David a — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Reiter, David a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Predicting Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing with MRI and Blood Tests
This work looks for new ways, using MRI scans and blood tests, to tell if a diabetic foot ulcer will heal well or not.
-
Understanding why diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers heal poorly
This study is looking at why diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers don’t heal well, by examining tissue samples to find out how certain genes and the bacteria on our skin might affect healing, with the hope of creating better treatments for these stubborn wounds.
-
Immunomodulatory therapy to speed up healing after oral cavity injuries in kids
A new approach using a drug called FTY720 aims to improve healing and reduce pain after oral injuries or palate surgery in children.
-
Aiming to slow dangerous lung inflammation to help fight bacterial infections like tuberculosis
A patient-facing program tests whether stopping a specific inflammatory cell (Spp1+ macrophages) from overreacting can help control tuberculosis and possibly improve outcomes in other inflammatory diseases.
-
Engineered protein materials to study wound healing and blood vessels
A researcher team at the University of New England is studying how the environment around a protein changes its behavior to better understand wound healing and blood vessel formation.
-
Understanding how healing tissue uses tiny messengers and scaffolds to repair wounds
A study to learn how cells talk to each other and how tiny vesicles and the extracellular matrix help skin wounds heal better.
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.