Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Rochester received a $342,125 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) under the Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.846) for the period May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028. The grant funds research investigating the role of telocytes in the synovial lymphatic system and their relationship to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. The research will examine how telocyte networks interact with mast cells to regulate lymphatic function and inflammatory responses in joint tissue, with particular focus on how exercise may preserve these cellular networks and mitigate RA-associated inflammation.

The project deliverables include two primary research aims utilizing advanced microscopy techniques to characterize telocyte networks in the synovium and joint-draining lymphatic vessels, and to assess the protective effects of exercise on telocyte preservation and lymphatic function in inflammatory arthritis models. Outputs will include whole-mount immunofluorescent microscopy and light-sheet microscopy data examining telocyte network architecture in healthy and diseased states, as well as experimental findings on exercise-mediated prevention of telocyte loss and lymphatic dysfunction. The research is expected to generate peer-reviewed publications and preclinical data contributing to the mechanistic understanding of lymphatic dysfunction in RA and potential therapeutic applications.