Wound fluid test to predict healing in diabetic foot ulcers
Official title: Diabetic Foot Ulcer Wound Fluid Biomarker
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11323031 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for chemical signals in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers that could tell adults with diabetes whether a wound will heal with standard care or need a different treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | April 25, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $503,705 |
| NIH project number | 5R33DK131909-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323031 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) who have diabetic foot ulcers, especially chronic or hard-to-heal wounds, are the most relevant candidates for this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes or those with acute, normally healing minor wounds are unlikely to be eligible or to gain direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, researchers are analyzing molecules found in the fluid of diabetic foot ulcers to find patterns tied to poor healing. They used metabolomics to screen hundreds of small molecules in wound fluid samples from people with chronic wounds and identified a strong candidate marker. The aim is to turn that finding into a practical test that warns clinicians early when a wound is unlikely to respond to standard care. If successful, the test would help doctors change treatment sooner to try to prevent worsening and possible amputation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could let clinicians identify non-healing wounds earlier so they can switch to more effective treatments and reduce the risk of amputation.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have explored wound biomarkers with some promising leads but reliable, widely used clinical tests are still limited, so this builds on early but not yet definitive findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roy, Sashwati — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Roy, Sashwati
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Identifying biomarkers in wound fluid for diabetic foot ulcers
This study is looking at special substances in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers to see if they can help doctors predict how well the wounds will heal, which could lead to better and more personalized treatments for people with these types of wounds.
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Improving Diabetic Foot Ulcer Offloading with User-Friendly Cast Walker Design
A small pilot study to see how different removable cast walker designs affect daily use and healing of diabetic foot ulcers.
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Home-based exercise to help Veterans recover after healed diabetic foot ulcers
A home-based exercise program for Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer to improve walking and daily function.
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Investigating gene markers that affect healing in diabetic foot ulcers
This study is looking at how inflammation affects the healing of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, and it's creating a special test to help doctors understand how well these wounds are healing so they can provide better, personalized care for patients.
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Home exercise program to help Veterans recover after a recently healed diabetic foot ulcer
A home-based exercise program designed to help Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer regain strength, mobility, and independence.
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Understanding Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing
This project aims to find a way to predict how well diabetic foot ulcers will heal by looking at specific markers related to inflammation.
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.