Simpson Lab awarded $400K NIH grant

The Simpson Lab has received a two-year $400K grant from NIH/NIAMS to support a project focused on epidermolysis bullosa (EB) simplex, a rare inherited blistering disorder. Using KRT5 mutant human keratinocytes and 3D epidermal tissues optimized by PhD student Karina Schmidt, the lab aims to find ways to reduce skin fragility in EBS, including through use of FDA-approved drugs that could be repurposed for treating this orphan disease. Key data in this grant application were generated with an Innovation Pilot Award from the UW Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM).