Molecular clues to imprinting problems after fertility treatments
Official title: Identifying Molecular Signatures of Genomic Imprinting Errors
Funded at Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation · NIH-11318893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for molecular clues that explain why fertility treatments can sometimes lead to imprinting problems in babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $367,680 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD101574-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11318893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families who have used or plan to use ART and parents or children affected by known imprinting disorders would be most relevant for related sample donation or follow-up studies.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate infertility treatments or those with conditions unrelated to imprinting changes are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this basic research.
What this research studies
This work focuses on how assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may disrupt imprinting, the DNA marks that regulate key growth and development genes. Researchers will study eggs and very early embryos to see whether maternal molecules and common ART procedures affect DNA methylation at imprinted genes. The team will use laboratory models guided by observations from children with imprinting disorders linked to ART, such as Beckwith‑Wiedemann and Angelman syndromes. The aim is to identify molecular signatures that could help detect or prevent imprinting errors associated with fertility treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to tests or changes in fertility practices that reduce imprinting errors and lower the risk of imprinting-related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown that ART procedures can cause imprinting methylation errors, but translating those findings into human prevention strategies is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mann, Mellissa Rae Wigle — Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation
- Study coordinator: Mann, Mellissa Rae Wigle
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.