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Single cell analysis of healthy and diseased temporomandibular joint synovial fluid

Award Number: UH3DE032204
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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Single cell analysis of healthy and diseased temporomandibular joint synovial fluid - Project Summary/Abstract Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJDs) are a set of complex, poorly understood painful conditions that profoundly impact the quality of life of many children and adults in the US. Patients presenting with TMJDs often respond well to conservative therapy, but some patients endure multiple surgical procedures without relief. Indeed, the profound lack of mechanistic knowledge underpinning TMJDs has hindered the development of evidence-based therapy. As a result, there is a critical need to utilize the most recent technological advances in molecular biology towards developing novel therapeutic targets to improve care. In this project, we propose to utilize single cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNAseq) to identify and classify the cell populations and gene expression in TMJ synovial fluid. Our central hypothesis is that synovial fluid from symptomatic TMJD patients contains a unique cell population that is directly correlated to TMJ pain. In the UH2 phase of this project, we will develop the protocols for obtaining high quality TMJ synovial fluid and blood from healthy and symptomatic TMJD patients. In the UH3 phase of this project, we will perform single cell RNA sequencing and analysis on TMJ synovial fluid and blood from both healthy and symptomatic TMJD patients. We hypothesize that synovial fluid from symptomatic TMJD patients contains a unique cell population that can be identified by single cell RNA sequencing, is correlated with pain but not joint derangement, is present in blood from TMJD patients immediately preceding worsening symptoms, and is not present in healthy controls. The results from this study will provide mechanistic data at the single cell level regarding the initiation and resolution of TMJD.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $593,561 )
2025	2025	THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY	1020 WALNUT ST STE 1	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19107	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	003	3	8/8/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$584,995
2025	2024	THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY	1020 WALNUT ST STE 1	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19107	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	002	2	5/9/2025	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$8,566
2025	2024	THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY	1020 WALNUT ST STE 1	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19107	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	2	1/13/2025	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
2025	2024	THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY	1020 WALNUT ST STE 1	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19107	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	001	2	3/20/2025	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
														Subtotal = $593,561

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $584,995 )
2024	2024	THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY	1020 WALNUT ST STE 1	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19107	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	2	8/16/2024	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$584,995
														Subtotal = $584,995

Grand Total All Awards = $1,178,556

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Single cell analysis of healthy and diseased temporomandibular joint synovial fluid

Award Number: UH3DE032204

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2026

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