Tissue fission and fusion: how cells shape organs during development
Official title: Physical, cellular, and molecular control of tissue fission and fusion
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11624008 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in zebrafish will explore how forces inside and between cells drive the splitting and joining of tissue to form body organs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,358 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HD112594-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11624008 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
That will depend on future translational steps, but findings may ultimately benefit individuals with birth defects linked to tissue remodeling.
✕Less likely to help
People without conditions related to birth defects or developmental tissue remodeling are unlikely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses zebrafish to observe tissue remodeling during early development, focusing on how cells generate forces and reconfigure their contacts as tissues split and fuse. Researchers will measure how actomyosin flow and cell–cell or cell–ECM adhesions influence the formation of neuromasts and related structures. They will test new ways to control where and when proteins act to drive these processes, helping us understand how birth defects can arise when tissue shaping goes wrong. The work combines live imaging, biophysical measurements, and innovative protein depletion techniques to map the mechanical and molecular steps of tissue fission and fusion.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Advancing knowledge of how organs form could inform prevention or treatment strategies for congenital birth defects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in similar model systems has shown that mechanical forces and cell adhesions influence tissue morphogenesis, supporting potential success here.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qian, Weiyi — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Qian, Weiyi
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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.