How the spine forms during early development using zebrafish
The systems developmental biology of zebrafish body elongation
Researchers are using zebrafish to learn how the early spine grows so this knowledge can help people born with spinal birth defects like scoliosis or spina bifida.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11243476 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This program uses zebrafish embryos to watch how cells, tissues, and forces shape the developing spine. The team combines genetics, live imaging, and computational models to track cell behavior and tissue interactions as the body elongates. They apply new single-molecule biophysics methods to see how molecules that control cell adhesion work in real time. The work aims to link these basic mechanisms to human birth defects such as scoliosis and spina bifida.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People or families affected by congenital spinal birth defects (for example, congenital scoliosis or spina bifida) or those interested in contributing clinical information or samples to related future studies.
Not a fit: Patients with adult-acquired spine problems (such as degenerative back pain) or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic zebrafish research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal root causes of congenital spinal defects and point to new ways to prevent or repair them.
How similar studies have performed: Zebrafish have a strong track record for revealing developmental mechanisms relevant to human birth defects, though combining live single-molecule biophysics with systems-level modeling is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holley, Scott a — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Holley, Scott a
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.