Award Details:
Award Type: Catalyst
Award #: C-088
Proposal Title: Quantitative Matrisomics: A Novel Approach to Decipher Fibrosis
PI(s): Alexandra Naba (UIC) and John Varga (NU)
Award Amount: $247,816.00
Application Cycle: Round 25 (Spring 2018)
Award Start Date: September 1, 2018
Award End Date: August 31, 2020
Abstract:
Fibrosis, a disease characterize by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, represents a global health concern and a major unmet medical need. Indeed, it is estimated that 45% of all deaths are attributed to complications of fibrosis. The biochemistry of fibrosis in distinct organs such as lung, heart and skin, remains poorly characterized, representing a major gap in knowledge. A powerful novel technology now permits, for the first time, accurate quantitative proteomic evaluation of the ECM composition or “matrisome” of normal and fibrotic tissues. We will optimize and use this approach to understand how fibrosis alters the biochemical structure of key organs using a novel model of fibrosis in the mouse. Results from our proposed matrisomic analysis will provide powerful new insight into the nature of fibrosis, generate potential novel biomarkers for fibrosis, and have significant relevance for the understanding and treatment of systemic sclerosis and other currently incurable human fibrotic diseases.