Grant Award Summary

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University received a $614,625 Project Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847). The award was obligated on June 15, 2026, with a completion date of March 31, 2030. The research will be conducted at the institution's Cleveland, Ohio facility.

The grant funds fundamental biomedical research investigating Hepatocyte Nuclear Receptor 4 Alpha (HNF4A) as a mediator of environmental risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Specifically, the research examines how environmental exposures integrate with genetic and immunological factors to promote IBD onset, with emphasis on understanding how different HNF4A isoforms regulate intestinal barrier function, mucus production, and ion transport. The study utilizes transgenic mouse models and cell culture systems to characterize isoform-specific gene targets and determine how environmental risk factor exposure disrupts the balance of HNF4A isoforms in ways that increase IBD susceptibility. The anticipated outcomes include improved understanding of IBD pathogenesis and identification of potential therapeutic targets for disease prevention and treatment.