Nuclear Envelope Dynamics in Meiotic Quality Control
Funded at Lehigh University · NIH-11377670 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at Lehigh University is exploring how eggs and sperm maintain quality during meiosis in a worm model to prevent chromosome errors that can cause birth defects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lehigh University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethlehem, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $434,679 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM160292-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377670 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with fertility issues or birth defects linked to meiotic errors, or researchers and clinicians studying meiosis.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without meiotic-related issues may not directly benefit from this basic science study.
What this research studies
This project studies how chromosomes pair and exchange genetic material during meiosis using the C. elegans worm as a model. It focuses on how the nuclear envelope and a nearby protein network influence whether cells undergo programmed death to prevent the transmission of faulty eggs or sperm. The work uses a new chemical proximity tool to understand how defects in chromosome pairing trigger cell responses, with potential implications for human fertility and birth defects. It aims to map the signals that decide whether meiotic cells proceed or are eliminated when synapsis fails.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights could lead to better understanding of causes of birth defects and infertility, with potential avenues for therapeutic strategies in the future.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in model organisms supports a link between synapsis failure and apoptosis in meiosis, but the exact signaling pathway is still being defined.
Where this research is happening
-
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Chenshu — Lehigh University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Chenshu
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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.