How genes are turned on or off in early development
Official title: Regulatory mechanisms governing imprinted domains during early development
Funded at Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation · NIH-11122248 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to understand how genes from parents are controlled during the earliest stages of development, which is important for fertility treatments and certain birth conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $392,275 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD109347-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11122248 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research could eventually benefit patients undergoing assisted reproductive technologies or those affected by rare imprinting disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without fertility challenges or conditions related to genomic imprinting would not directly benefit from this specific basic research.
What this research studies
Our bodies have a special way of controlling genes, called genomic imprinting, where only the gene from one parent is active. This project focuses on how this process works during the very first stages of life, before a baby is even implanted. We are looking at specific proteins that help create an active environment for certain genes to be turned on. Understanding these steps could help us learn more about why some fertility treatments have challenges and how certain rare genetic conditions develop.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a better understanding of fertility issues and rare genetic disorders, potentially improving outcomes for assisted reproduction and preventing certain birth defects.
How similar studies have gone: While DNA methylation is known to be important, this project is exploring novel mechanisms and specific proteins that are not yet fully understood in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mann, Mellissa Rae Wigle — Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation
- Study coordinator: Mann, Mellissa Rae Wigle
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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.