Genetic enhancers guiding lip and palate formation in babies
Official title: Identification of candidate genomic regulatory elements involved in oral clefts
Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-11425011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for key DNA elements that control when and where genes involved in lip and palate development are turned on in developing embryos.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 13, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $384,577 |
| NIH project number | 7R03DE034666-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425011 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable at this stage; this is a basic science study using human embryonic tissues to map regulatory elements.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not immediate, as research is in early developmental biology.
What this research studies
Researchers will study regulatory DNA elements called enhancers in human embryonic palate tissue to see which ones drive gene activity during lip and palate formation. They will identify transcription factors that bind these enhancers and confirm these interactions with laboratory tests. The goal is to map how these regulatory pieces control craniofacial development and how disruptions could lead to oral clefts. This work focuses on human-relevant tissues and uses experiments that connect regulatory elements to their target genes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could improve understanding of why oral clefts occur and guide future therapies or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows enhancers regulate craniofacial genes, supporting the approach but the specific elements are still being identified.
Where this research is happening
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Children's Research Institute
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carter, Tonia C — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Carter, Tonia C
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.