Grant: Catalyst Grant: Systems Biology Approaches to Immunotherapy

Damaged tissues can undergo repair or regeneration. Repair leads to the replacement of the lost tissue with non-functional components, usually fibrous scar or fat infiltration. Regeneration is a process at the endpoint of which the lost tissue is returned to full functionality. It is unclear what determines whether one of the other prevails following damage. Here, we propose to study the stem/progenitor cells involved in these processes and how their function is influenced by inflammatory cells. We will use skeletal muscle as a model system as scarring and fat infiltration are significant clinical problems in this tissue, but we expect similar mechanisms to be at play in other tissues. The results of this study could eventually lead to drugs to reduce scarring and improve regeneration