Tempo Therapeutics Secures $2.25 Million NIH Grant for Wound Healing

The two-year project focuses on patients recovering from non-melanoma skin cancer resections, specifically testing if the Microporous Annealed Particle (MAP) matrix can create a vascularized wound bed suitable for grafting faster than existing treatments. Led by Dr. Stephanie Deshayes, the trial builds on earlier research where MAP-treated wounds reached favorable healing scores 14 days earlier than standard-of-care controls.

Unlike conventional scaffolds that often trigger persistent foreign-body reactions, the flowable, synthetic material is engineered to promote volumetric tissue growth. Westbrook Weaver, the company’s co-founder and CTO, noted that the trial seeks to prove this biological advantage in the reconstruction of wounds with exposed bone. This award marks a significant step for the San Diego-based firm, which has already submitted its lead product to the FDA through the De Novo pathway.