Regulation of TRPM7 in eggs and early embryos to support fertility treatments
Official title: Regulation of the functional expression of the TRPM7 chanzyme essential for Mg2+ homeostasis in mouse oocytes and cleaving embryos to improve assisted reproductive technologies and modulate fertility
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11319933 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how the TRPM7 protein helps control essential minerals in eggs and early embryos to improve fertility and assisted reproductive technologies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2018 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $548,933 |
| NIH project number | 2R01HD092499-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319933 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals seeking fertility treatments or IVF who could benefit from optimized mineral support in embryo culture or implantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing fertility treatment or those not affected by mineral regulation in reproduction may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project examines how TRPM7, a channel-plus-kinase protein, controls magnesium and other minerals in mouse eggs and early embryos, aiming to understand how these signals affect fertilization and development. By dissecting how TRPM7 is regulated and how its channel and kinase parts interact, researchers hope to identify ways to optimize mineral needs during embryo growth. The findings could inform improvements to fertility treatments and timing of assisted reproduction techniques. The work uses mouse models to uncover mechanisms that may translate to human fertility care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better protocols for mineral management in fertility treatments, potentially improving embryo development and success rates.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research on ion channels in reproduction has yielded insights, but direct modulation of TRPM7 for fertility is an evolving area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fissore, Rafael Antonio — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Fissore, Rafael Antonio
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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.