The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) awarded a Project Grant under its Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865) to Duke University's Office of Research Administration Division. The $339,402 award, effective July 23, 2024, funds a research project titled "Regulation of Fertility and Reproduction by Codon Usage: A Drosophila Model". The project aims to study the role of rare codons in regulating gene expression in male germ cells and neurons to understand their impact on fertility and reproductive behavior. Key focus areas include identifying the mechanisms by which mRNA stability and translation are controlled by rare codons in the testis versus ovary, and in neurons versus neural progenitors. The project will also define the function of rare codon-derived proteins in gametogenesis, fertility, and reproductive behavior. This research aligns with the NICHD program's goals of supporting scientific investigations that explore fundamental biological mechanisms and develop new insights into human development and health.