# Defining the role of lymphatic vessels in wound healing

> **NIH NIH R01** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $515,898

## Abstract

My laboratory recently uncovered an unexpected and intriguing role for a lymphatic vessels during skin wound
healing. In particular, we identified that mice without lymphatic vessels display hypervascular regeneration and
fibrosis after injury. Our findings are important for several reasons. First, while lymphatic vessels have been
shown to be important for skin repair, the precise function of these cells in skin repair is poorly understood.
Second, our data reveal that unknown mechanisms involving lymphatic vessels control blood vessel repair and
skin fibrosis, two conditions that impact wound healing and excessive scarring. Finally, lymphedema, a chronic,
debilitating and incurable swelling that can be a result of damage to the lymphatic vessel system due to
surgery, cancer, treatments, or injury, affects over 10 million Americans. Through these focused and
complementary Specific Aims, the work proposed in this application will take advantage of multiple genetic
mouse models that allow specific depletion of lymphatic vessels, state of the art genomics, cell culture models.
We will (1) identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive lymphatic endothelial regeneration in the
skin, (2) analyze the function of lymphatic endothelium cells in suppressing blood vessel repair and
contributing to fibrosis, and (3) define whether enhancing lymphatic vessel repair ameliorates defective wounds
of aged and diabetic mice. These studies will identify specific pro-healing cells and molecular mechanisms that
can be utilized to promote healing in human patients with defective wound healing or lymphatic disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10235080
- **Project number:** 1R01AR079232-01
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Valerie Horsley
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $515,898
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10235080

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10235080, Defining the role of lymphatic vessels in wound healing (1R01AR079232-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10235080. Licensed CC0.

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