Grant: Project Grant

Tendons are vital connective tissues that attach muscles to bones, enabling movement and physical activity. Unfortunately, when tendons are injured, they often heal poorly, leading to chronic pain and reduced mobility. While humans struggle with tendon repair, zebrafish-a small tropical fish-have an extraordinary ability to regenerate many tissues, including tendons. In our study, we developed a tendon regeneration model in zebrafish to better understand how tendon injuries can be repaired more effectively. We discovered a special group of cells called progenitor-like fibroblasts, which act as tendon stem cells and play a key role in repairing damaged tendons. Using advanced genetic tools and live imaging, we will study how these cells regulate the surrounding environment and help regenerate tendon cells after an injury. We will also identify the genes that give these cells their unique regenerative abilities. Zebrafish are an excellent model for this research because their genes can be easily modified, and we can observe cell behavior in real time. This work will help us uncover the basic principles of how these special tendon stem cells function to repair damaged tendons.