# Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Wound Repair

> **NIH NIH R01** · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER · 2024 · $439,485

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Most cells of the body experience physiological and environmental stresses during their normal daily
functions that can lead to a ruptured cell cortex (plasma membrane and underlying cortical
cytoskeleton). The capacity of cells to rapidly repair general daily injuries, as well as ones resulting from
trauma, infection, or diseases/cancer, is essential for their survival. The general aim of this proposal is
to delineate how cells deal with such cell cortex disruptions to efficiently and effectively repair the
lesions. We have developed a robust inducible single cell repair model using the syncytial Drosophila
embryo that has superb amenability for live imaging and genetic tractability that is unavailable in other
cell wound repair models. Our repair model has allowed us to successfully employ global genetic
approaches for the first time to delineate the outline of cellular events and to identify many required
genes/gene families providing clear molecular entry points for investigating specific key steps in the
repair process. Our long-term goal is to establish the molecular framework underpinning cell wound
repair. The specific aims of this proposal are 1) to determine the means by which the membrane plug
re-seals the torn plasma membrane then facilitates wound closure; 2) to determine how the actin ring
is attached to the overlying plasma membrane to coordinate their actions as the wound is pulled closed;
and 3) to elucidate the basis of cell cortex remodeling following wound closure. Our findings will impact
our understanding of cell wound repair across phyla, complement work done in other cell repair models,
provide new insights into key players/events needed for efficient repair, as well as how they work in
concert to achieve successful wound closure, and contribute to our understanding of related
fundamental cellular and developmental events. Our studies are also expected to be of significant
medical relevance, as understanding the molecules, machineries, and pathways governing cell wound
repair will be extremely valuable for developing new or enhancing existing strategies for treating cellular
damage, and for disciplines such as regenerative medicine where cell based constructs are used to
reconstruct tissues or clinical drug delivery systems where molecules cross cell membranes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10913465
- **Project number:** 5R01GM111635-11
- **Recipient organization:** FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** SUSAN M PARKHURST
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $439,485
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-05-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10913465

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10913465, Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Wound Repair (5R01GM111635-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10913465. Licensed CC0.

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