How the gene TCERG1 may help protect fertility as organisms age
Official title: Cross-Species Roles of TCER-1/TCERG1 in Fertility and Reproductive Aging
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11362995 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether the gene TCERG1 helps protect fertility and affects reproductive aging in animals and humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $453,785 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG100956-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362995 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project is basic lab research and does not enroll patients, but any human samples would likely come from adults who consent to donate reproductive tissue or blood, especially those with age-related fertility concerns.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate clinical treatments—such as urgent infertility care or treatment for active conditions like AML—are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this foundational research.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, scientists will compare the TCER-1/TCERG1 gene across worms, flies, plants, and mice to see how it links fertility, immune activity, and aging. They will use genetic manipulation and molecular lab tests to change the gene and measure effects on eggs, sperm, immune responses, and lifespan-related markers. The team will study RNA splicing changes in reproductive cells and look for TCERG1 patterns in mouse and human tissues. Together these experiments aim to show whether findings in simple organisms apply to mammals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new biological targets or markers to help preserve fertility or slow reproductive aging in people.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies in worms, flies, and plants have shown TCER-1-like proteins influence fertility and immunity, but applying those findings to mammalian TCERG1 in living animals is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghazi, Arjumand — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Ghazi, Arjumand
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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.