NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Creating zebrafish models to study human genetic diseases

Official title: Resource of zebrafish models of human diseases

Funded at University of Oregon · NIH-10795508 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is creating special zebrafish that can help us learn more about rare genetic diseases in people, so we can better understand these conditions and help those who are still looking for answers.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Oregon
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Eugene, United States)
Project startSeptember 15, 2024
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$743,926
NIH project number1R24OD036061-01
Project IDNIH-10795508 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with undiagnosed rare genetic diseases who have undergone whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing.

Less likely to help

Patients with well-characterized genetic conditions or those not involved in genetic research may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing zebrafish models that mimic human genetic diseases to better understand the underlying biology of these conditions. By collaborating with clinical sites, the project will gather genetic information from patients with undiagnosed rare diseases. Using advanced CRISPR technology, researchers will create specific genetic modifications in zebrafish to study the effects of these variants. The resulting models will be rigorously validated and made available to the scientific community for further research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and potential treatments for rare genetic diseases.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research using zebrafish models has shown success in elucidating the functions of genes related to various diseases, indicating a promising approach.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Oregon
    Eugene, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Westerfield, Monte — University of Oregon
  • Study coordinator: Westerfield, Monte

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.