Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) awarded a $167,400 Project Grant to Boston Children's Hospital effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865). Dr. Michael Duyzend will lead a five-year career development initiative focused on dissecting the genetic and phenotypic architecture of stillbirth and fetal structural anomalies to advance prenatal precision diagnosis. The research program will deliver three primary products: (1) identification of pathogenic and candidate genetic variants contributing to stillbirth and fetal anomalies through analysis of large-scale genomic datasets; (2) comprehensive phenotype-genotype correlation analyses across prenatal indications, incorporating advanced statistical methodologies and phenotype-driven variant prioritization; and (3) standardized and harmonized genotype and phenotype datasets designed for broader community use among clinicians and researchers.

The funded activities represent an investigator-training initiative designed to prepare Dr. Duyzend as an independent physician-scientist and leader in perinatal precision diagnosis. The project leverages robust, large-scale datasets to uncover shared biological pathways and genetic risk factors between stillbirth, fetal structural anomalies, and developmental delay—conditions affecting approximately 1 in 175 and 1 in 33 pregnancies in the United States, respectively. Deliverables will advance fundamental understanding of prenatal disease genetic etiologies and support development of precision medicine approaches for perinatal diagnostics, addressing a significant public health need with substantial socioeconomic impact.