Enhancing the understanding of echinoderm genomes
Official title: Improved Annotation of Echinoderm Genomic Features
Funded at Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-10933439 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to make the genetic information about sea creatures like starfish and sea urchins clearer and more accurate, which will help scientists understand how these animals develop and relate to other species, and it will also improve a key online resource for researchers studying these fascinating marine animals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2024 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $192,113 |
| NIH project number | 5P41HD095831-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-10933439 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include scientists and researchers working in the fields of marine biology, genomics, and developmental biology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in scientific research or who do not have a specific interest in echinoderm biology may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the quality and accuracy of genomic data for echinoderms, a group of marine animals that includes starfish and sea urchins. By utilizing advanced sequencing technologies and bioinformatics algorithms, the project aims to create better genome assemblies and gene annotations. This will help researchers identify gene relationships both within echinoderms and with other species, ultimately enhancing the understanding of developmental biology. The project will also update the Echinobase, a centralized resource for echinoderm genomic information, making it more useful for the scientific community.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant advancements in the understanding of echinoderm biology and its implications for developmental biology.
How similar studies have gone: Other research in genomic annotation and sequencing has shown success in improving our understanding of various species, indicating that this approach has potential for significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
Carnegie-Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hinman, Veronica Frances — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Hinman, Veronica Frances
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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.