Understanding how meiosis starts and progresses to prevent birth problems
Official title: Regulatory mechanisms of meiotic entry and progression
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11386487 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in mice aims to uncover how the cell division steps that create eggs and sperm are controlled, with the goal of reducing miscarriage and birth defects linked to chromosomal errors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $386,791 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147130-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386487 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with a history of chromosomal disorders related to meiosis or birth anomalies, and families interested in the genetic causes of aneuploidy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a risk of meiotic chromosomal errors or birth anomalies may not directly benefit from this basic-mechanism study.
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models to explore how cells switch from mitosis to meiosis and how the transcriptome and RNA interactions control chromosome behavior during germ cell development. Researchers will map genome-wide RNA–protein interactions and create structure-function mutants to reveal how the YTHDC2 protein and its partner MEIOC regulate gene expression during meiosis. The findings could clarify why errors in chromosome separation lead to aneuploidy and related birth outcomes. The work focuses on two pathways—one that acts within the germ cells and one that involves signals from surrounding tissues—to understand the full regulatory network. The ultimate aim is to inform strategies to prevent miscarriage and congenital anomalies caused by chromosomal abnormalities in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into preventing chromosomal errors during egg formation, potentially reducing miscarriage and birth defects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in model organisms have linked meiotic regulation to chromosomal stability, suggesting that the mechanisms explored here are promising but still being validated in mammals.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jain, Devanshi — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Jain, Devanshi
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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.