Understanding how skin and mouth tissues develop and interact
Official title: Identifying transcriptional interplay between skin and oral ectoderm during mandibular patterning
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11096975 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the mouth and skin develop in babies and how their growth is connected, using special mice to understand the genes involved, which could help explain some birth defects that affect these areas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | June 13, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $503,648 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DE034668-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11096975 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with congenital defects related to oral and skin development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without congenital defects or those whose conditions do not involve the oral or skin tissues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the complex development of the mouth and skin tissues, focusing on how these different epithelial domains are formed and interact during early development. Using knockout mouse models, the study aims to uncover the genetic programs that control the segmentation of these tissues and how they influence each other. By examining the expression of specific genes at various developmental stages, researchers hope to clarify the genetic mechanisms behind congenital defects that affect these structures, which can lead to significant health issues for affected individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and potential treatments for congenital defects affecting the mouth and skin.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific genetic interactions being studied may be novel, similar approaches using knockout models have shown success in understanding developmental biology.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Otterloo, Eric — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Van Otterloo, Eric
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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.