# High resolution 3D mapping of cellular heterogeneity within multiple types of mineralized tissues

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 2023 · $100,000

## Abstract

Abstract
 The parent grant is a collaboration of two complementary research groups that is designed to
spatially map the chondrocytes that form and maintain the human articular cartilage (AC) of a synovial
joint which in this case is the knee. The Scripps component obtains and processes the experimental
samples for detailed molecular expression studies. The UCONN component utilizes its skills in
histological imaging of skeletal tissues to provide the spatial distribution of the cells that are identified
by the molecular expression data using an RNA identification method called MERFISH. The activities
proposed in this supplement expands the identification technology to utilize antibody binding to the
proteins encoded by the genes (CODEX). The supplement will support the implementation of this
antibody detection method to multiple targets so that groups of cells with a defined biological function
can be identified and their location mapped to specific zone of the human AC. The two imaging
techniques should be complementary and provide a high degree of confidence in patterns of
distribution of functional groups of cells within the 3 zone of the AC. Eventually it will serve as the
baseline for appreciating a disturbance in the patterns when the tissue is under a stress that can lead to
the early stages of cartilage degeneration and the eventual onset of osteoarthritis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10816791
- **Project number:** 3U54AR078664-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **Principal Investigator:** Martin K Lotz
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $100,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-21 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10816791

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10816791, High resolution 3D mapping of cellular heterogeneity within multiple types of mineralized tissues (3U54AR078664-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10816791. Licensed CC0.

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