Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Utah received a $392,942 Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective May 22, 2026, with a completion date of February 28, 2030. This grant supports fundamental biomedical research investigating the regulation of single cell migration in vivo, with a specific focus on understanding focal adhesion dynamics during cell migration in living organisms. The research employs an innovative visualization system utilizing zebrafish larval skin to directly observe focal adhesion formation and behavior in migrating cells—a significant departure from traditional two-dimensional and three-dimensional in vitro culture models that have historically dominated migration studies.

The project addresses a critical gap between laboratory-based findings and in vivo cell behavior by examining how focal adhesion components, particularly paxillin phosphorylation, regulate cell migration in living systems. The research outcomes are intended to enhance understanding of fundamental biological processes governing cell migration and establish a foundation for advances in disease diagnosis and treatment, particularly for conditions such as cancer where aberrant cell migration plays a critical role. The award supports the research team's ability to develop and validate new mechanistic insights into focal adhesion biology that may inform future pharmaceutical development targeting focal adhesion machinery for therapeutic intervention.