Understanding how body parts share genetic blueprints to form tissues
Official title: Deconstructing and recapitulating the genetic basis of gene regulatory network redeployment
Funded at Kansas State University · NIH-11391365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to uncover how the body reuses genetic networks to make repeated parts like hair, muscles, and neurons, with experiments in adult humans and model systems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhattan, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,681 |
| NIH project number | 5R00GM147343-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults with birth defects or related conditions, or individuals involved in studies using human samples or data as part of the genomic analyses.
✕Less likely to help
People not linked to birth defects or those not contributing samples or data may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will explore how gene regulatory networks are redeployed to create repeated body structures. Researchers will examine how parts of these networks are reused in different tissues and test predictions by genetically manipulating model systems. They will use genomic techniques to see how downstream genes are controlled by upstream factors across various tissues. The work will involve cutting-edge transgenic methods to probe cause-and-effect rather than just associations. The findings could help explain birth defects and how body plans are built at the genetic level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could deepen our understanding of developmental biology and birth defects, potentially guiding new approaches to diagnose or treat related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in model organisms suggests gene networks can be redeployed, but this project seeks to confirm and extend those findings in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Kansas State University
Manhattan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rice, Gavin Ryan — Kansas State University
- Study coordinator: Rice, Gavin Ryan
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.