CHD7 gene and CHARGE links to heart and facial lymphatic development
Official title: Chromatin remodeling factor CHD7 regulates cardiac and craniofacial lymphatic vessel development
Funded at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles · NIH-11323540 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at understanding how CHD7 gene changes affect the growth of heart and facial lymphatic vessels in model systems, with potential implications for CHARGE syndrome patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hospital of Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 25, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $662,016 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL176018-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323540 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to current patients; foundational biology in model systems that may inform future CHARGE syndrome therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not immediate; this is a basic science study in models to understand disease mechanisms.
What this research studies
This project looks at how a CHD7 gene that’s linked to CHARGE syndrome influences the development of lymphatic vessels in the heart and face, using animal models and advanced imaging. Researchers will study SHF heart progenitor cells to see how CHD7 affects which cells become lymphatic vessels and how they form in the craniofacial region. They will examine gene expression and chromatin accessibility to understand the regulatory programs guiding lymphatic development. The work combines lineage tracing, live imaging, and mutant analysis to connect CHD7 function with congenital heart and craniofacial anomalies. These findings could reveal new targets for understanding and potentially mitigating related birth defects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify mechanisms behind CHARGE-related heart and facial malformations and point to strategies for future therapies or prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest CHD7 influences cardiac lymphatic development, indicating this line of inquiry is plausible and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lien, Ching-Ling E — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Lien, Ching-Ling E
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.