Fertilization at the Molecular Level: Building a Model of Sperm-Egg Interactions
Official title: Building a model of the molecular interactions of fertilization
Funded at University of Delaware · NIH-11367966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are building a detailed, patient-reacing model of how sperm and egg signals and stick together to start life, using a worm model to uncover the molecules involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $336,057 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD119202-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is basic-science and not a patient-intervention study; patients with fertility concerns may benefit indirectly from advances in reproductive biology.
✕Less likely to help
There is no direct patient participation or treatment in this grant.
What this research studies
This project uses Caenorhabditis elegans to map how proteins communicate and bind during fertilization, aiming to link specific genes to the steps that allow sperm to fertilize an egg. By integrating gene discovery with mechanistic relationships among fertilization proteins, it seeks a clearer picture of the fertilization process that underpins human reproduction. The work will translate basic findings into a framework that could inform future reproductive technologies and fertility research. The grant leverages established worm biology tools to illuminate fundamental biology relevant to human fertilization, with potential implications for addressing infertility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of fertilization mechanisms could inform better treatments and technologies for human infertility.
How similar studies have gone: Previous fertilization research in model organisms has revealed key sperm-egg interactions and a fertilization synapse, supporting the value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Delaware
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krauchunas, Amber — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Krauchunas, Amber
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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.