How the inner lining shapes developing organs
Official title: Apical extracellular matrix during organ formation
Funded at Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-11322133 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are learning how the thin inner lining of organs controls tube size to better understand conditions like polycystic kidney disease and underdeveloped lungs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $146,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R03DE034704-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322133 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with congenital tube-formation disorders such as polycystic kidney disease, bronchial or pulmonary developmental problems, or related developmental syndromes are the most likely long-term beneficiaries and candidates for future clinical follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment improvements should not expect direct or short-term benefit because this is basic laboratory research in model organisms.
What this research studies
This project uses laboratory work in small model organisms (fruit flies and roundworms) to study the apical extracellular matrix, the thin layer that lines the inside of tubular organs. Scientists will focus on how chemical changes, especially sulfation by an enzyme called Papss, alter that lining and influence how tubes expand and elongate. They will manipulate genes and examine the developing salivary gland in fruit fly embryos to identify molecules that control lumen size. Although the work is done in animals, the goal is to reveal basic mechanisms that could be relevant to human organ-development disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal molecular targets that guide organ tube growth and eventually inform new approaches to diagnose or treat developmental organ disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in C. elegans and Drosophila have shown the apical ECM affects tube shape, but examining Papss-driven sulfation in organ tube sizing is a newer, less-tested direction.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Seyeon — Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
- Study coordinator: Chung, Seyeon
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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.