# Utilizing beige fat to improve muscle function after rotator cuff repair

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE/RES/EDU · 2022 · $293,450

## Abstract

Project Summary
The 2nd leading cause of disability worldwide is musculoskeletal disease, including back
pain, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Musuloskeletal conditions disproportionately affect
women and non-white people, a problem exacerbated by the fact that orthopedics is the
least diverse clinical and biomedical research specialty. Musculoskeletal science
represents an ideal multi-disciplinary scientific field to train students across the spectrum
of transcriptomics, cellular biology, inter-organ cross talk, and translational research.
Critical gaps in the current system are the fact that there is a lack of underrepresented
trainees with the expertise to achieve NIH funding in orthopedic surgery, and a similar
lack of clear mentorship and guidance for surgeon scientists to train the next generation
of scientists that can ameliorate the burden of musculoskeletal disease on our aging
population. While many surgeon scientists seek to train underrepresented applicants,
most lack the framework and training necessary for the effective mentorship of
underrepresented students in the fields of biomedical research, musculoskeletal disease,
and orthopedic surgery. Bridging these gaps is a necessary and achievable goal to
promote a diverse and equitable scientific community focused in improving the outcomes
of orthopedic and musculoskeletal degenerative processes.
This proposal will seek to bridge two critical gaps in our ability to train underrepresented
people in the field of musculoskeletal biomedical research. In Aim 1, we will continue the
immersive training of Steven Garcia towards a K08 award, providing him the necessary
bridge towards independent funding. This will be achieved by allowing him to continue
his post-doctoral work on the transcriptomic profiling of FAPs in muscle injury states as
well as develop new insights leveraging spatial transcriptomic analysis of FAP gene
expression. In Aim 2, we will enhance the mentorship program provided by the Feeley-
Liu lab by providing mentorship training for Dr. Feeley through the well-established UCSF
Diversity Mentorship program. Additionally, current and future underrepresented students
will be given specific time within the laboratory training to learn advanced skills necessary
(e.g. transcriptomic analysis, metabolic assays of mitochondrial function, advanced
statistical analytics), as well as exposure to clinical orthopedic surgery to understand the
translational potential of the current bench research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10605678
- **Project number:** 3R01AR072669-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE/RES/EDU
- **Principal Investigator:** Brian Feeley
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $293,450
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10605678

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10605678, Utilizing beige fat to improve muscle function after rotator cuff repair (3R01AR072669-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10605678. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*