UR biology professor Isaac Skromne awarded $340,000 NIH grant for research with zebrafish focused on curing bone diseases

A University of Richmond biology professor’s research with zebrafish explores administering medication directly to bones and allows for exploration of possible solutions for reversing the effects of bone diseases.

Isaac Skromne, a developmental biologist, has been awarded a National Institutes of Health – National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases grant in the amount of $343,881 for his research project, “Testing the therapeutic potential of carbon nanodots in bone mineralization diseases.” Skromne is collaborating with Roger Leblanc, professor and chair of the chemistry department at the University of Miami. 

Carbon dots are particles that can be used as a vehicle to deliver medication directly to bones. The researchers in Miami will synthesize the materials (carbon dots and medications) and send them to Skromne’s lab at UR. Skromne and his team, which will include undergraduate students, will then inject those materials into zebrafish embryos and adults. One goal of the exploratory project is targeted treatment.

“Administering medication directly to bones is preferable, as today, medications for bone diseases are not targeted and therefore impact other parts of the body,” Skromne explains. “For example, a medication for osteoporosis might cause a patient side effects such as nausea. Targeted treatment may help.”

The researchers will also be able to explore possible solutions for reversing the effects of bone diseases.

“We know there are medications out there that can stop diseases like osteoporosis, but as far as I know, there are no drugs available to reverse calcium that has been lost,” Skromne says. “This research may lead us to regeneration options.”

Zebrafish are ideal subjects for this type of research for a number of reasons, including:

• They have regenerative properties.
• Zebrafish lay eggs externally, which makes them easy to collect.
• Embryos are transparent, so you can see what’s going on inside the body.
• Zebrafish have shown similar mutations to humans regarding bone defects.

As part of the research, Skromne is also breeding a special type of zebrafish called Caspers, which remain transparent into adulthood.

Skromne joined UR’s faculty in August. He completed his bachelor’s degree at National Autonomous University of Mexico and his masters and Ph.D. at Columbia.

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The mission of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases is to support research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases; the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research; and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases.

Disclaimer: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R21AR072226. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.