How RUNX proteins shape early sperm development
RUNX proteins define opposing fates in the male germline
['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11321728
This work looks at how RUNX proteins guide the formation and balance of sperm stem cells in boys and men to better understand causes of infertility and related disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PULLMAN, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11321728 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use lab models and modern single-cell 'omics methods to map how RUNX family proteins control the steps that create and maintain sperm-forming stem cells before puberty. The team will combine detailed molecular profiling with functional experiments that disrupt RUNX activity to see what goes wrong in self-renewal and differentiation. Findings from animal models and human-derived tissues will be compared to identify shared mechanisms. The goal is to clarify developmental causes that could underlie adult infertility or germline-related cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be males (or parents of boys) willing to provide reproductive tissue or biological samples, or patients with early-onset or unexplained male infertility who want to contribute to research.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate fertility treatment or those without reproductive concerns are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this basic laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to diagnose or eventually treat some forms of male infertility and reduce risks tied to early germline defects.
How similar studies have performed: Previous molecular and model-system studies have implicated RUNX proteins in germ cell development, but functional links to human infertility are still emerging and this project builds on recent findings.
Where this research is happening
PULLMAN, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY — PULLMAN, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LAW, NATHAN C. — WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LAW, NATHAN 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 below.