Understanding how jellyfish eyes develop and regrow to learn about regeneration
Official title: Deciphering the cellular and genetic features of development and regeneration using eyed cnidarians
Funded at University of California Santa Cruz · NIH-11430203 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying jellyfish to map how their eyes form and repair themselves, hoping to uncover clues that could someday help human medicine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Cruz NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Cruz, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $425,804 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM166544-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11430203 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient enrollment; study uses jellyfish models.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefits are not part of this basic science project.
What this research studies
This grant uses eyed cnidarians (jellyfish) to map the single-cell and gene programs that drive eye development and regeneration. The team will apply advanced techniques like single-cell sequencing, in situ hybridization, and gene knockdowns to identify which cell types participate and how their gene networks change during growth and after injury. By comparing development and regeneration within the same species, researchers aim to see whether regeneration reuses the same pathways as normal development. The work focuses on evolutionary insights about regenerative mechanisms that could inform therapies in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal fundamental rules of tissue regeneration that might inspire new strategies for healing human tissues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in regeneration has shown conserved gene networks in some species, but this project explores a broader, less-studied system (cnidarians) for new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macias-Muñoz, Aide — University of California Santa Cruz
- Study coordinator: Macias-Muñoz, Aide
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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.