主要研究 今天

In a significant boost to biomedical research and ultimately human health outcomes, University of New Hampshire professors 临清李 and 内特Oldenhuis have been awarded nearly $4 million from the National Institutes of 健康 (NIH) for research that will advance wound healing and tissue generation.

内特Oldenhuis ​

Oldenhuis, 化学助理教授, plans to leverage the grant to explore new applications of DNA that is a byproduct of COVID vaccine production. His lab aims to transform DNA from its conventional role in vaccine manufacturing into biomaterials mimicking the mechanical properties of human tissues. This approach holds promise due to DNA's unique programmability and ability to behave without adverse effects to the body, offering potential advancements in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

“如果成功, this research will provide important fundamental insights into how tissues and individual cells respond to changing forces over time,Oldenhuis说. "This could lead to the development of materials used in tissue regeneration applications, such as scaffolding for the growth of new organs or substances that can be applied to wounds to prevent scarring." 

临清李 

Li, 化学和生物工程助理教授, will utilize the MIRA funding to investigate how to engineer material’s microstructure to promote vessel growth—a new approach to chronic wound healing. 这种创新的方法, 使用可注射的生物材料, could revolutionize current treatments by addressing the underlying issue of inadequate blood vessel formation in chronic wounds.

“Current biomaterials and approaches aiming for chronic wound healing are mostly focusing on closure, 但我们建议解决伤口血管再生问题,李说。. “这种方法可以形成血管化, 具有正常功能的层状皮肤组织用于慢性伤口患者.” 

两笔为期五年的赠款，每笔总额为1美元.900万年, are part of the NIH’s prestigious Maximizing Investigators' 研究 Award (MIRA) grants from the National Institute of General Medical 科学(美国). The awards are aimed at enhancing scientific productivity and fostering breakthroughs and will provide crucial support for their respective research endeavors. 

MIRA项目, 由NIGMS监督, seeks to streamline funding processes and increase flexibility for researchers, ultimately promoting innovative discoveries across diverse scientific disciplines, 并将从不同的途径探讨伤口愈合和组织生成.

两位教授都对获奖表示感谢, 强调其对推进他们的研究的重要性, including the hiring of postdoctoral researchers and opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to engage in scientific exploration.

They each also have received support and mentorship from two interdisciplinary projects at 主要研究: the NIH-funded human health research accelerator 生物医学与生物工程综合研究中心 (CIBBR)和 NH BioMade, an initiative of the National Science Foundation-funded New Hampshire EPSCoR that aims to advance the state’s biomaterials industry.