Virumbrales-Munoz awarded R21 grant from NIDCR

Congratulations to María Virumbrales-Muñoz, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences! Virumbrales-Muñoz received a R21 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for the project “Microphysiological systems to recapitulate and interrogate Sjögren’s disease salivary gland pathogenesis” (1R21DE035319-01). Virumbrales-Muñoz is a multiple principal investigator on the study, along with Sara McCoy, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Medicine. The grant is effective August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2027.

The project “Microphysiological systems to recapitulate and interrogate Sjögren’s disease salivary gland pathogenesis” will use an in vitro bioengineered system – a specialty of Virumbrales-Muñoz’s – to model Sjögren’s disease (SjD), a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by severe oral and ocular dryness due to exocrine gland inflammation. SjD affects approximately four million people in the United States, with women being disproportionately impacted.  

Researchers will recapitulate fibrosis (scarring tissue often occurring due to inflammation) to study its effects on tissue resident cells and immune cell migration. They will also evaluate the effects of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor therapy in normalizing the highly inflammatory tissue environment characteristic of SjD. 

Incredible work, Dr. Virumbrales-Muñoz!