Project Grant R01DK145591

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. $406,985 on September 1, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) to investigate mechanisms regulating FOXA1 and FOXA2 transcription factors during human liver development.

The research addresses how FOXA1 and FOXA2 pioneer transcription factors regulate chromatin opening and gene activation required for hepatic specification from human induced pluripotent stem cells. The project will identify transcriptional co-activators that fine-tune FOXA1 and FOXA2 chromatin remodeling during hepatocyte specification and determine how acetylation and sumoylation of these factors impact their ability to bind and remodel chromatin in preparation for liver gene activation. The work advances understanding of mechanisms underlying normal liver development and differentiation.

Performance occurs in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through May 31, 2030. The award is classified as a Project Grant, a competitive research funding mechanism under the NIDDK extramural research program supporting basic and clinical biomedical research that improves understanding of disease mechanisms and leads to improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment across diabetes, digestive, endocrine, liver, metabolic, and related disease areas.