Understanding human development and disease using frog embryos
Official title: CSHL Cell & Developmental Biology of Xenopus Course (2025-2029)
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11093615 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about using frog embryos to help us learn more about how our bodies develop and what causes diseases like cancer and birth defects, and it's designed for students who want to get hands-on experience in this important area of research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $160,304 |
| NIH project number | 2R25HD030269-32 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093615 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are students and researchers interested in developmental biology, genetics, and molecular biology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in academic research or do not have an interest in developmental biology may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on using the frog species Xenopus to explore fundamental biological processes related to human development and disease. Participants in the course will gain hands-on experience with the biology and manipulation of Xenopus embryos, learning techniques for gene discovery and molecular analysis. The program aims to prepare students for independent research by providing them with the skills needed to study developmental biology and related diseases, such as cancer and birth defects. By working with these animal models, participants will contribute to a deeper understanding of how genes influence development and disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant advancements in our understanding of human developmental processes and diseases, potentially informing new treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using Xenopus as a model organism has shown success in advancing our understanding of various biological processes and diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stewart, David J. — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Stewart, David J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding cancer cachexia and its drivers to improve patient care
A research team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is studying why cancer patients lose weight and muscle and how to help prevent or treat that loss.
-
Brain cancer and brain-glia communication: how tumor cells and microglia talk to each other to drive gbm growth
A patient-facing look at how GBM tumors may manipulate brain immune cells to grow, and how understanding this communication could lead to new treatments.
-
Whole-Body Redox Maps to Guide Prostate Cancer Therapy
A new research project will map redox states across the body to understand how prostate cancer and its spread respond to therapy.
-
Understanding how fats in tumors affect immune attack and cancer growth
This project looks at how lipid production in cancer cells influences their growth and how the immune system fights the tumor, and how dietary fats might change that interaction.
-
High-throughput mapping of brain circuits using MAPseq and BARseq for autism research
A new set of fast, DNA-sequencing–based tools helps scientists map brain wiring in animals to better understand conditions like autism.
-
A new software tool for analyzing nascent RNA data to study cancer biology
A new probabilistic software framework will help scientists study how cancer-related genes start and grow by analyzing nascent RNA sequencing data.
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.