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UBC Medicine Researchers Awarded More Than $39 Million in CIHR Funding

August 17, 2026

[The University of British Columbia] UBC Faculty of Medicine researchers have been awarded more than $39 million in federal funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant: Spring 2026 competition.

A Thiol-Rich Immunomodulatory Injectable Hydrogel Suppresses Endometrial Fibrosis to Restore Fertilization

August 13, 2026

[Science Advances] Researchers reported a thiol-rich immunomodulatory injectable hydrogel (TR-gel) that forms in situ through Michael addition between acrylated hyaluronic acid and thiolated hyaluronic acid. In a rat intrauterine adhesion model, TR-gel decreased collagen deposition, promoted angiogenesis, and improved the fertility rate from 25.0 to 62.5%.

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Awards $4.2 Million to Exceptional Early-Career Scientists

August 13, 2026

[Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation] The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 14 new Damon Runyon Fellows, brilliant postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators.

FibroBiologics Granted US Patent Covering the Use of Fibroblasts to Enhance Survival and Function of Transplanted Insulin-Producing Islets

August 13, 2026

[FibroBiologics, Inc.] FibroBiologics, Inc. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent that describes methods utilizing fibroblasts to improve the engraftment and long-term function of transplanted pancreatic islets, addressing one of the major challenges in islet transplantation.

Scalable 3D Bioprinting of Human Islets in a Pancreatic Decellularized Extracellular Matrix-Enriched Bioink for Beta-Cell Replacement Therapy

August 13, 2026

[Acta Biomaterialia] To support human islet viability and function, researchers developed alginate-based bioinks incorporating human pancreatic decellularized ECM.

A Practical Toolbox for Modelling Fibrosis In Vitro

August 13, 2026

[Nature Biomedical Engineering] The authors define the hallmarks of fibrosis across organ systems to establish foundational design criteria necessary for modelling human fibrosis in vitro.

A Low-Crosslinking Hydrogel Integrating Prodrug Nanoparticles Modulates Neuroinflammation and ECM Deposition for Enhanced Spinal Cord Regeneration

August 13, 2026

[Biomaterials] Scientists explored a localized biomaterial delivery strategy via regulating the crosslinking degree of hydrogel matrix, in which high-crosslinking density of hydrogel tends to exacerbate neuroinflammation via Piezo1 activation as well as Wwtr1-dependent macrophage reprogramming.

Experience-Dependent Modulation of Extracellular Matrix Integrity Supports Perceptual Skill Learning and Memory

August 13, 2026

[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America] Investigators tracked and manipulated auditory cortical ECM integrity in Mongolian gerbils during perceptual learning. They found that the ECM undergoes rapid training-induced changes, degrading and returning to baseline within 24 hours of each session.

CD177 Neutrophils Drive Extracellular Matrix Remodelling and HGF-Alpha Release in ALPPS-Induced Liver Regeneration

August 13, 2026

[Gut] Researchers combined single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to comprehensively profile immune microenvironment changes in the remnant liver during associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS).

Histone Lactylation in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Induces Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Immunosuppression to Promote Colorectal Cancer Progression

August 13, 2026

[Cancer Research] The authors demonstrated that elevated lactate levels in CAFs reprogram the epigenetic landscape to promote tumor progression and immunosuppression, highlighting the potential of targeting CAF histone lactylation as a therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer.

Unlocking Myofibroblast Plasticity to Reverse Salivary Gland Fibrosis

August 13, 2026

[Journal of Dental Research] Scientists examine current mechanistic evidence undergirding myofibroblast activation, survival, and its phenotypic reversal, focusing on restoring glandular function.

Spatial Transcriptomics Reveals a Key Role of Fibroblast-Like Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Human Atherosclerotic Cell Crosstalk and Stability

July 30, 2026

[European Heart Journal] Intercellular communication patterns in human plaque microenvironments were mapped to reveal novel targets to prevent atherosclerotic events.

The Extracellular Matrix News team is proud to provide an essential resource on the latest publications, reviews, industry news, and jobs relevant to the matrix research community. Topics include extracellular matrix-cell interactions, extracellular matrix protein characterization and their application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and the development and characterization of synthetic scaffolds.