How gut nerve cells choose their roles during development
Official title: Transcriptional regulation of neuronal cell lineage decisions in the developing enteric nervous system
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11312696 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are mapping how gut nerve cells form and testing genes that guide their development to help people with conditions like Hirschsprung's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $521,786 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD105604-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11312696 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People or families affected by Hirschsprung's disease or other congenital enteric nervous system disorders would be the most relevant to this line of research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without enteric nervous system disorders or those seeking immediate treatment options are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
If you or a child has a gut nerve disorder like Hirschsprung's disease, this research aims to trace how the gut's nerve cells are born and become different types. The team uses zebrafish embryos because they are easy to image and genetically modify, and they will profile individual enteric neurons with single-cell RNA sequencing across early development. They will then use CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt candidate genes in zebrafish and compare how neuronal development changes. The goal is to pinpoint the genes and signals that steer nerve cell decisions in the gut.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal genes and pathways that lead to better diagnostics or new approaches to prevent or repair nerve defects in the gut.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using single-cell sequencing and CRISPR in animal models have successfully identified key genes for neuronal development, but applying these findings to human treatments is still early.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bronner, Marianne — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Bronner, Marianne
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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.