Co-evolution of transposable elements and their hosts in fruit flies
Official title: Co-evolutionary dynamics between transposable elements and their hosts
Funded at North Dakota State University · NIH-11345446 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist is studying how jumping genes (transposable elements) and fruit fly biology influence each other, aiming to understand genome stability and offspring health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Dakota State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fargo, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $362,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM155272-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345446 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with interest in genetics and genome biology, particularly those affected by or studying transposable elements in model organisms.
✕Less likely to help
This grant focuses on basic mechanisms in model organisms and does not involve direct patient enrollment or clinical testing.
What this research studies
This project uses the fruit fly model to explore how transposable elements and the host’s defense system, especially piRNA pathways, interact to keep genomes stable. Researchers will examine how different parts of the genome silence or tolerate these elements in germline and somatic cells, building on previous developmental biology work in Drosophila melanogaster. The work will involve detailed genetic and molecular analyses to understand how alternative splicing and RNA processing affect TE control and genome integrity. Findings could illuminate why genome instability occurs and how it impacts fertility and development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of genome stability mechanisms could inform strategies to protect fertility and prevent genome-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in Drosophila has established key roles for piRNA in TE silencing, supporting the potential for meaningful insights from this project.
Where this research is happening
-
North Dakota State University
Fargo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Signor, Sarah — North Dakota State University
- Study coordinator: Signor, Sarah
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Modernizing sequencing capacity at a veterinary diagnostic lab to help One Health and antimicrobial stewardship
A veterinary diagnostic lab at North Dakota State University is upgrading its sequencing equipment to speed up and lower the cost of analyzing animal health samples, supporting One Health and antimicrobial stewardship efforts.
-
Veterinary Reference Bank panels to verify veterinary antimicrobial tests
A veterinary-focused set of well-characterized bacterial panels will help laboratories check and compare antimicrobial susceptibility tests and related methods.
-
Targeting how platelets and pancreatic cancer talk to each other
A study exploring whether blocking the interaction between platelets and pancreatic cancer cells could slow cancer growth and spread and help identify new biomarkers.
-
Bioelectrical signals in pancreatic cancer cells: shaping immune responses
This grant explores how electrical signals inside pancreatic cancer cells affect how the immune system can fight the cancer, with the goal of making immunotherapy work better.
-
Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core Facility supports pancreatic cancer research
A dedicated Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core helps junior researchers in pancreatic cancer translate ideas into solid, well-powered studies by providing data analysis and collaboration support.
-
Administrative Core supporting a pancreatic cancer center at a university
A university center is coordinating a program focused on pancreatic cancer research to help junior investigators advance translational work that could lead to better diagnostics and therapies.
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.