The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) was awarded a $385,575 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (CFDA 93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) to conduct research on the crosstalk between immune dysregulation and impaired wound healing in an inherited autoinflammatory disease called disabling pansclerotic morphea (DPM). The key objectives of this 5-year research project are to:
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Determine the mechanism by which gain-of-function mutations in the STAT4 gene lead to immune dysregulation in DPM patients, using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and in vivo mouse models.
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Investigate how enhanced STAT4 signaling impacts neovascularization, immune cell crosstalk, and contributes to the poor wound healing observed in DPM.
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Explore translational mechanisms targeting the JAK/STAT pathway as potential therapeutic approaches for managing DPM.
This research aims to advance the understanding of the underlying immunological and vascular factors that drive the severe, debilitating symptoms of this rare childhood disorder, with the goal of identifying new treatment strategies.
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