Why bone can form in soft tissues after injury
The Role of Extracellular Matrix Dysregulation in Heterotopic Ossification
This project looks at how changes in the tissue scaffold after injury cause unwanted bone growth in people who have had traumatic injuries or orthopedic surgeries, especially veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131016 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will study how the extracellular matrix — the tissue 'scaffold' that guides healing — becomes disrupted after injury and allows bone to form in soft tissues. They will combine laboratory experiments, animal models, and analysis of injured human tissue samples (including samples from veterans) to compare normal and abnormal healing. The team will manipulate specific matrix proteins and signaling pathways to see which changes trigger ectopic bone formation. The aim is to identify molecular targets that could be blocked by future therapies to prevent heterotopic ossification.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had traumatic musculoskeletal injuries, combat blast injuries, amputations, joint replacement surgery, or early signs of heterotopic ossification — particularly veterans treated at the VA — would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without musculoskeletal injury or those with long-standing, mature ectopic bone that is unlikely to be changed by molecular treatments may not see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to targeted treatments that prevent or reduce heterotopic ossification, improving pain, mobility, and prosthetic use.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked inflammation and bone-forming signals to heterotopic ossification and non-specific preventions like NSAIDs or radiation exist, but targeted molecular therapies remain largely unproven and this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peck, Sun H — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Peck, Sun H
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.