Pediatric tissue samples to map how genes are expressed as kids grow
Official title: Pediatric Biospecimen Procurement Center (BPC) Supporting the Developmental Gene Expression (dGTEx) Project
Funded at National Disease Research Interchange · NIH-11409187 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide effort will collect and share pediatric tissue samples to create a public map of how gene activity varies across different ages and organs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Disease Research Interchange NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,333,206 |
| NIH project number | 5U24HD106537-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11409187 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and young people who can contribute tissue samples under appropriate consent and ethical approvals.
✕Less likely to help
Current patients will not directly benefit from the samples collected unless they become part of a future study that uses the data or samples.
What this research studies
This project will gather healthy pediatric tissue samples across many organs from four developmental stages and link them to genetic information. It will use new methods, including single-cell analyses, to capture detailed molecular profiles. An ethics-focused study will address concerns about pediatric tissue donation, with clear safeguards and consent processes. The resulting data resource will help doctors and researchers understand normal development and lay groundwork for future pediatric discoveries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians and researchers will have a rich reference of pediatric gene expression to interpret diseases and tailor treatments for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous GTEx work in adults has shown that gene expression maps are highly informative for understanding biology and disease, and this pediatric expansion aims to extend those insights to children.
Where this research is happening
-
National Disease Research Interchange
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bell, Thomas J — National Disease Research Interchange
- Study coordinator: Bell, Thomas J
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.