# Role of periostin expressing cells in intramembranous bone regeneration

> **NIH NIH K01** · RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2023 · $63,520

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Intramembranous bone regeneration plays an important role in several
orthopaedic and dental procedures such as implant placement, fracture healing, and distraction osteogenesis.
Prior studies have examined different processes during intramembranous bone regeneration, such as
inflammation, angiogenesis, and bone regeneration. However, an under explored aspect of intramembranous
bone regeneration is pain sensing neurons, such as their distribution and morphological changes over the
course of intramembranous bone regeneration. A rigorous examination of pain sensing neurons can be
achieved by tissue clearing and light sheet microscopy, which allows three-dimensional visualization and
quantitation of tissues. However, implementing these approaches have been met with significant technical
challenges in musculoskeletal tissues, such as significant autofluorescence and insufficient depth of field due
to collagen-rich extracellular matrix. Our preliminary data demonstrate several approaches that overcome
these challenges, but further refinement and comparison studies to conventional histological approaches are
needed. Therefore, we are proposing this supplement that aims to develop musculoskeletal tissue specific
tissue clearing light sheet microscopy that will examine periostin expressing cells and pain sensing neurons
during intramembranous bone regeneration. The supplement will address the strategic goal “Goal B: Expand
rheumatic, skin, and musculoskeletal disease pain research capacity (cohorts, technologies or data) beyond
current research base/collaborators” with a specific scientific area in novel pain imaging technologies for
musculoskeletal tissues.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10856528
- **Project number:** 3K01AR077679-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Frank Ko
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $63,520
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10856528

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10856528, Role of periostin expressing cells in intramembranous bone regeneration (3K01AR077679-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10856528. Licensed CC0.

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