Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded a Project Grant of $123,687 to the University of Wyoming on March 5, 2026 (with completion by February 29, 2028) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859). This award funds fundamental research investigating cell fusion and gene expression in the Caenorhabditis elegans epidermis. The research employs an integrated, multidisciplinary approach combining single-nucleus genomics, advanced microscopy techniques, and genome engineering to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing multinucleate cell formation and function.

The grant supports three primary research objectives: (1) examining how cell fusion facilitates epidermal specification through transcriptional regulation, particularly focusing on the ELT-3 transcription factor and tracking gene expression patterns; (2) investigating the role of cell fusion in synchronizing oscillatory gene control and extracellular matrix organization through longitudinal RNA sequencing and electron microscopy; and (3) comprehensively mapping nuclear heterogeneity within the syncytium using single-nucleus RNA sequencing and single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to determine whether nuclei maintain distinct identities or converge to shared developmental fates. The research will provide fundamental insights applicable to multiple biological processes, including conception, myogenesis, immune response, and tissue regeneration.