# The role of human esophageal myofibroblasts in regulating the epithelial response in GERD

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2020 · $350,625

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Complications of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) such as intestinal metaplasia (Barrett’s
esophagus) and esophageal adenocarcinoma continue to increase despite advances in medical and surgical
therapies. This deficit in management is due in part to the incomplete understanding of the cellular and
molecular mechanisms that mediate inflammation and epithelial restitution in GERD rather than progression to
metaplasia. The focus of the project will be on the human esophageal myofibroblast (HEMF), a stromal cell
with a recognized role in regulation of epithelial inflammation and proliferation via paracrine mediators. HEMFs
adapted into three dimensional co-culture models that recapitulate human esophageal stratified squamous
epithelium will be used to investigate HEMF-epithelial interactions in GERD. This project is particularly
significant because it delineates the poorly understood role of stroma in GERD related esophageal injury and is
the basis for the development of novel therapeutics for this chronic disorder.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017196
- **Project number:** 5R01DK118065-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Anisa Shaker
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $350,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-12 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017196

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017196, The role of human esophageal myofibroblasts in regulating the epithelial response in GERD (5R01DK118065-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017196. Licensed CC0.

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