Chibby proteins and sperm development in male fertility

The Role of Chibby Family Members in Spermatogenesis and Male Fertility

NIH-funded research State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11263736

Researchers are looking at how Chibby proteins affect sperm development and fertility in men with sperm problems.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stony Brook, United States)
Project IDNIH-11263736 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project studies proteins called Chibby that help build the tail (flagellum) of sperm, which is essential for sperm movement and fertilization. Scientists will use laboratory experiments and mouse models to see how loss or changes in these proteins affect sperm shape and motility. They will examine how Chibby interacts with membrane and ring structures in sperm and relate those findings to human ciliopathy-related infertility. The work aims to map the biological steps that go wrong when sperm tails are abnormal.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Men with unexplained infertility or poor sperm motility, particularly those with signs of ciliary dysfunction, would be the most likely candidates for related future studies.

Not a fit: Because this project is mainly laboratory and animal research, people seeking immediate treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new causes of male infertility and point to targets for future diagnostic tests or treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies showed that loss of Cby1 causes ciliary defects, and applying that knowledge to testis-specific family members like Cby1L is a newer extension of that work.

Where this research is happening

Stony Brook, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Airway infections
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.