# Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Matrix Biology Phase II

> **NIH NIH P20** · BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $723,429

## Abstract

1. PROJECT SUMMARY - Role of Cellular Mechanotransduction of Low Intensity Vibrations in Regulating
Extracellular Matrix Synthesis
1.1. Summarize the goal of the parent award: The long-term goal of the Center of Biomedical Research
Excellence (COBRE) in Matrix Biology is to establish, enhance, and actively advance a multidisciplinary research
center focusing on improving our understanding of the role of the extracellular matrix in development, health,
and disease, and contributing to the prevention, treatment, and cure for diseases of high priority. The specific
aims of the COBRE Matrix Biology Parent award are: 1) enhance and grow upon the critical mass of investigators
established around the thematic multidisciplinary focus of matrix biology, 2) enhance biomedical research core
capabilities, 3) grow research collaborations with existing programs, and 4) enhance research training
opportunities. This project will supplement the existing COBRE Matrix Biology award to form a new team of
investigators that bring together three investigators from IDeA states with different perspectives and expertise to
address complex basic, behavioral, clinical and/or translational research questions with complementary
approaches. The research question does not duplicate those currently being pursued by the parent award and
clearly benefits from the collective efforts of the collaboration.
1.2 Research question to be addressed by the supplement award: Engineering biophysical signals promises
non-pharmacologic interventions to direct tissue regeneration in conditions that devastate bone such as
osteoporosis, aging, injury, bedrest, or microgravity. Externally applied Low-Intensity Vibrations (LIV), a
mechanical signal similar to muscle activity, offers a readily usable technology to stimulate Mesenchymal Stem
Cell (MSC) anabolism for both tissue engineering and clinical approaches. LIV does not generate significant
matrix deformations in vivo, thus excluding most mechano-transduction mechanisms previously proposed for
high-magnitude and low-frequency mechanical signals (e.g., exercise). This presents a significant gap
knowledge about bone mechanobiology and prevents utilization of LIV as an effective treatment for bone loss.
MSC’s ability to replace and rejuvenate bone cell populations are informed by both dynamic mechanical forces
generated during daily activities (e.g. muscle activity) and by the quality of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM). Yes1
Associated Protein (YAP) is a transcriptional co-activator that can activate the expression of genes in response
to mechanical force, including ECM molecules such as Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) to regulate
collagen production in cells. For tissue engineering and clinical approaches to ultimately succeed, causative
information on how high-frequency signals generated by LIV are sensed, transduced, and eventually lead to
nuclear YAP expression and ECM production is critical.
This proposal aims to address a fundamental...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10844074
- **Project number:** 3P20GM109095-10S1
- **Recipient organization:** BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIA THOM OXFORD
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $723,429
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2014-08-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10844074

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10844074, Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Matrix Biology Phase II (3P20GM109095-10S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10844074. Licensed CC0.

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