Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Ohio State University received a $433,125 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), with an award date of June 1, 2026 and completion date of January 31, 2031. The research project, titled "Understanding Metabolic Reprogramming in Reparative Macrophages," focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms by which metabolic changes in macrophages—specifically involving phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) and serine synthesis pathways—influence epigenetic modifications that regulate macrophage anti-inflammatory function in wound healing and tissue repair.

The project addresses a significant public health challenge, as chronic or non-healing wounds affect over 2.5 percent of the U.S. population. The research will elucidate the relationship between metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic regulation in macrophages, examining how PSAT1-mediated serine synthesis affects mitochondrial heme synthesis, respiratory activity, and histone demethylation—processes critical to macrophage differentiation and reparative function. Findings from this fundamental biomedical research are expected to establish a scientific foundation for potential advances in treating chronic wounds and related tissue repair complications.