How embryos grow longer as they form their bodies
Mechanics of Vertebrate Embryo Elongation
Researchers are figuring out how the back end of embryos lengthens during development to learn why some babies develop body or spine birth defects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248334 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This lab project looks at the physical forces and molecules that make the back end of bird and mammal embryos extend as they form the body. Scientists study cells, fluid spaces, and molecules like FGF and hyaluronic acid, and use 3-D models and tiny channels to watch how tissues push and pull. They measure how tissues generate force and change shape when signaling or confinement is altered. Although it uses laboratory embryo models rather than people, the findings could point to causes of congenital body and spine malformations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients, but its results are most relevant to people and families affected by congenital spinal or body-patterning birth defects.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate treatments for existing conditions such as cancer or chronic illnesses are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal underlying causes of certain birth defects and guide future strategies to prevent or treat them.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies have shown roles for FGF signaling and hyaluronic acid in embryonic tissues, but applying mechanical confinement and microchannel approaches to explain posterior elongation is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pourquie, Olivier — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Pourquie, Olivier
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 below.