How mistakes in egg cell division can cause infertility and germ cell tumors
Official title: Understanding the role of meiotic misregulation in germ cell tumor formation
Funded at Dartmouth College · NIH-11112384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how errors in the last steps of egg cell division can lead to eggs that can't be fertilized, miscarriages, or germ cell tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $262,400 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM113132-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11112384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People affected by infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or ovarian germ cell tumors who are interested in supporting research into causes and future treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Because this is laboratory research in mice focused on basic mechanisms, it is unlikely to provide direct or immediate treatment benefits to patients.
What this research studies
This research uses mouse models to study the control of the second division of meiosis in egg cells and how failures in that control lead to uncontrolled cell growth and germ cell tumors. Scientists will examine the molecular events that keep eggs arrested in meiosis II until fertilization and identify what goes wrong when that arrest fails. The work focuses on mechanisms of chromosome segregation and DNA replication during oogenesis to link basic cell biology to infertility and tumor formation. Although the experiments are done in mice, the findings aim to explain processes that can underlie human miscarriage, chromosomal disorders, and ovarian germ cell cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify causes of some miscarriages and infertility and point toward new ways to detect, prevent, or treat ovarian germ cell tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior basic research has established that meiotic errors cause chromosomal abnormalities and infertility, but specifically linking meiosis II misregulation to germ cell tumor formation is a relatively new area of study.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth College
Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lacefield, Soni — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: Lacefield, Soni
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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.