Understanding the causes of ear birth defects in different ethnic groups
Official title: Leveraging Ethnic Anotia-microtia Disparities for Discovery (LEADD) Study
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11042213 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some babies are born with missing or underdeveloped ears, especially focusing on Hispanic and Latinx families, to better understand the social and genetic factors involved and improve care for those affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 31, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $760,914 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD018577-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042213 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children under 11 years old diagnosed with anotia or microtia, especially those from Hispanic or Latinx backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have anotia or microtia, or those outside the age range of 0-11 years, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the causes of anotia and microtia, which are birth defects resulting in absent or underdeveloped external ears, affecting over 80,000 Americans. The study focuses on identifying both social and genetic factors that contribute to these conditions, particularly among Hispanic and Latinx populations who experience higher prevalence rates. By analyzing data from millions of live births and utilizing advanced genetic analysis techniques, the research aims to uncover disparities in diagnosis and prevalence between different ethnic groups. This comprehensive approach seeks to improve understanding and ultimately enhance care for affected individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnosis and treatment options for children with ear birth defects, particularly in underserved populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in identifying genetic factors related to birth defects, making this approach promising for uncovering new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schraw, Jeremy — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Schraw, Jeremy
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Multimodal AI to improve genetic diagnosis of congenital heart disease
A new AI tool uses multiple types of patient data to help doctors find genetic causes of congenital heart disease more accurately.
-
Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Children
This project watches how often common vaccines prevent illnesses in kids who are in the hospital or at the emergency department, and compares them with healthy children getting well-child care.
-
Triple gene therapy approach to heal the heart after a heart attack
A new therapy combines three genetic approaches delivered by a virus to help the heart heal after a heart attack.
-
Thalamic sleep circuit changes in Alzheimer's disease
Aims to understand how sleep-related brain activity in a key sleep regulator called the TRN affects Alzheimer’s progression and whether boosting TRN function could slow symptoms.
-
Cardiomyocyte-fibroblast signaling in atrial fibrillation
A researcher at Baylor College of Medicine is studying how signals between heart muscle cells and supportive heart cells influence atrial fibrillation, with the goal of finding new ways to prevent or treat this common heart rhythm problem.
-
UMPIRE: Keeping Kidneys Healthy for Babies with Spina Bifida
A care protocol for newborns with spina bifida aims to protect kidney function by thoughtful bladder management and monitoring from birth.
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.