Creating new mouse models to study diseases more effectively
Official title: The Unilateral Mosaic (UMos): Novel tools to compartmentalize pathology and trace cellular interactions in mouse models of human disease
Funded at Cornell University · NIH-11039141 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating special mouse models that help scientists understand how diseases develop by comparing healthy and unhealthy lung tissues in the same mouse, which could lead to better insights into how diseases work and how cells interact.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $235,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21OD037879-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11039141 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals with conditions that are studied using mouse models, such as autoimmune diseases or cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not have corresponding mouse models or those not involved in research settings may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research develops innovative mouse models that allow scientists to study disease processes by creating areas of disease-prone and disease-resistant tissue within the same animal. By using a technique called Unilateral Mosaic, researchers can express genes that affect disease susceptibility in only one side of the lungs, providing a unique opportunity to compare healthy and diseased tissues side by side. Additionally, the study introduces a method for tracing cellular interactions in living mice, which could enhance our understanding of how diseases progress and how cells communicate. These models aim to reduce variability in research and improve the accuracy of findings related to complex human diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more precise models for studying diseases, ultimately improving treatment strategies for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success with similar innovative mouse modeling techniques, indicating a promising avenue for advancing our understanding of human diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gludish, David W — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Gludish, David W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
PORTENT 3.0 Technical Core for global health point-of-care tools
A NIH U54 grant supports Cornell and partners in advancing point-of-care technologies for nutrition, infection, and cancer to real-world use, especially in global health settings.
-
Point-of-care zinc test strips to verify infant zinc medicines in low-resource settings
A fast, low-cost smartphone‑based test strips method checks zinc-containing infant medicines in places with limited lab access.
-
Center for Spillover Prevention and One Health Readiness in Asia
A center in Asia works to prevent pandemics by studying how animal infections jump to humans and by building tools to detect and respond quickly to spillovers.
-
SAGE: A privacy-friendly system to monitor antimicrobial use in animals
A nationwide, privacy-preserving data hub will securely collect and standardize antimicrobial use data across animal species to support smarter stewardship and regulatory science.
-
Rapid, bedside KS diagnosis in Africa with KS-COMPLETE
A fast, point-of-care test using skin biopsies to diagnose Kaposi’s sarcoma in sub-Saharan Africa, helping patients get results in about an hour.
-
Nuclear mechanics in tight cell movement
Scientists are studying how the nucleus changes its shape and function when cells squeeze through very small spaces, which could affect health and disease.
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.