Understanding how the vagus nerve connects to organs during development
Official title: Developmental mechanisms specifying vagal innervation of organ targets
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-10935959 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the vagus nerve, which helps control important functions like heart rate and digestion, develops and connects to organs, using zebrafish embryos to learn more about how this process works, which could help us understand nerve-related health issues better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $76,756 |
| NIH project number | 5F32HD113384-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10935959 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions related to vagus nerve dysfunction or those interested in the biological mechanisms of organ regulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to vagus nerve function or those not experiencing any organ regulation issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the developmental processes that guide the vagus nerve, a critical nerve that connects the brain to various organs, including the heart and digestive system. Using zebrafish embryos as a model, the study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that dictate how the vagus nerve establishes connections with these organs. By examining the organization of nerve fibers and their targets, the research seeks to provide insights into how the nervous system regulates vital functions such as heart rate and digestion. This could lead to a better understanding of conditions related to nerve function and organ regulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of nerve-related disorders and improve treatments for conditions affecting organ function.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach using zebrafish embryos is relatively novel, similar studies have successfully elucidated nerve development and function in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seroka, Austin — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Seroka, Austin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How brain glia prune neuron fragments in a worm model
Researchers study how brain support cells called glia remove pieces of living neurons in a tiny worm to learn about brain aging and diseases like Alzheimer's.
-
Understanding and Targeting Lineage Plasticity in Prostate Cancer with Genomic-Based Neoadjuvant Therapy
A broad research program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is exploring how aggressive prostate cancers change their cell states in response to therapy and how to block these changes.
-
Personalized cancer drug testing on patient tumor cells
Aiming to test many FDA-approved cancer drugs on a patient’s own tumor cells to identify effective options when standard therapies fail.
-
MOSAAIC: Using health records to track heart disease in Asian American Communities
A big, dedicated effort is testing whether electronic health records can more quickly and accurately track heart and blood vessel problems in Asian American populations.
-
Targeting gut microbes to prevent progression to multiple myeloma
Researchers are testing how specific gut bacteria might trigger immune changes linked to early blood cancer stages and whether targeting these microbes could help prevent progression to multiple myeloma.
-
eDyNAmiC: Understanding extrachromosomal DNA in cancer and how it drives aggressiveness
A cancer research project at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is studying abnormal circular DNA pieces (ecDNA) that help cancers grow and resist treatment, with the aim of finding ways to help patients.
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.