A math-based look at how plant stem cells shape fern growth
Official title: A bio-math approach to elucidate stem cell dynamics in Ceratopteris gametophytes
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11392387 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project at Purdue uses math and computer models to understand how tiny fern cells move and divide to form stems and shapes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $188,177 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM157611-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392387 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participants in this grant.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient involvement or patient-specific benefits in this project.
What this research studies
This project studies how individual fern cells behave and interact to shape growing tissues, using time-lapse imaging and predictive models. Researchers will combine experiments with data-driven modeling to connect cell-level dynamics to overall tissue formation. The goal is to build a data-driven framework that links cell behavior to organ development in Ceratopteris gametophytes over three years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how cell growth and organization build tissues, which could inform broader insights into developmental biology.
How similar studies have gone: Similar model-based cell-dynamics work exists in other species, but this project applies a novel integration to Ceratopteris.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Volkening, Alexandria — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Volkening, Alexandria
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.