Understanding how cell communication affects early embryo development
Extracellular regulation of Xenopus development
This study is looking at how cells talk to each other in early embryos to understand how they decide what to become and how they move, using frog embryos to see how certain proteins help guide these important changes during development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11050729 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how cell-to-cell communication in early embryos influences cell fate and movement during development. By using the Xenopus model, the study will explore the roles of specific proteins and signaling pathways that regulate collective cell behaviors, particularly focusing on the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. The researchers will employ advanced techniques such as live imaging and proteomics to analyze how these processes occur in real-time and how they contribute to critical morphogenetic events like neural tube closure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals interested in developmental biology, particularly those affected by birth defects or cancers related to cell signaling pathways.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to developmental processes or cell signaling may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into developmental processes that may help prevent birth defects and improve understanding of cancer progression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in understanding cell signaling pathways in development, making this approach promising but still exploratory in the context of Xenopus.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sokol, Sergei — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Sokol, Sergei
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 below.