Federal Project Grant Award Summary

ST Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc. received a $388,500 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective July 1, 2026, with completion scheduled for February 28, 2030. The grant supports investigator-initiated research exploring the interaction between ACSL1's "BH3-like domain" and the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1 (myeloid cell leukemia-1) and its impact on lipid metabolism. The project addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding how MCL-1 regulates ACSL1 beyond fatty acid oxidation, including effects on lipid synthesis, lipid droplet formation, and the fusion of lipid droplets with mitochondria during metabolic processes.

The research deliverables include both in vitro and in vivo experimental investigations utilizing a novel mouse model engineered with mutations in ACSL1's alpha helix designed to selectively disrupt MCL-1 binding while preserving MCL-1's anti-apoptotic functions. This approach will generate mechanistic insights into lipid metabolism regulation, potentially advancing understanding of metabolic dysfunction associated with over 80 human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hepatic steatosis, and certain cancers. The work directly supports NIGMS's mission to advance fundamental biological research that lays the foundation for disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention advances.