Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Medical University of South Carolina received a $315,417 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective May 1, 2026 through February 28, 2030. This award supports fundamental biomedical research investigating the molecular mechanisms of hypoxia-induced fibroblast migration during wound healing. The research aims to identify how low-oxygen conditions rewire cytoskeletal dynamics in fibroblasts—specifically examining focal adhesion formation and actin polymerization at the cellular leading edge—to understand and ultimately prevent excessive fibroblast migration that contributes to scar formation. The project takes a novel approach by studying the PIM1 kinase as a therapeutic target independent of the conventional hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) pathway, with the objective of developing new drug and treatment strategies to reduce pathological scar formation at the cellular rather than tissue level.

The research outputs from this award will advance the foundational scientific understanding of wound healing biology and generate findings that may support the development of therapeutic interventions for scar prevention. As an investigator-initiated research project supported through NIGMS's core mission to fund basic biomedical research that establishes the foundation for advances in disease prevention and treatment, this award exemplifies the Institute's commitment to supporting meritorious scientific investigation across diverse biological disciplines.