Understanding how neural crest cells shape the bones of the skull
Official title: A signaling crosstalk regulation in neural crest-derived cranial suture
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11621103 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher will study how signals control the skull’s sutures, with potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of conditions like craniosynostosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DE033506-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11621103 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cranial suture disorders, such as craniosynostosis, could benefit from future diagnostics or therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cranial suture conditions may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Craniofacial deformities involving skull sutures can lead to serious health problems. The project aims to map molecular signals that guide cranial suture development using human-relevant models. The researcher will gain skills in iPSC technology, single-cell RNA sequencing, and CUT&RUN to investigate how neural crest-derived cells influence suture formation. The work intends to generate new knowledge that could inform future diagnostics and therapies for cranial bone disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Foundational insights could lead to better diagnosis and targeted treatments for cranial suture diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in craniofacial development have shown that signaling pathways in neural crest-derived cells are crucial for normal suture formation; this project builds on that groundwork with human-cell analyses.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Xiaolei — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Xiaolei
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.