Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center received a $682,848 Project Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), effective June 1, 2026, with a completion date of February 28, 2031. The award supports research investigating mitochondrial function in germ cell development through a novel enforced mitophagy platform. The research encompasses three primary objectives: (1) investigating how mitochondrial abundance influences primordial germ cell specification and contributes to the mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) genetic bottleneck; (2) establishing an in vivo mitochondrial depletion model targeting developing germ cells, including spermatocytes, spermatozoa, and oocytes to clarify the functional necessity of mitochondria across gametogenesis stages; and (3) developing a periodic mitochondrial clearance system to enhance mitochondrial quality control in reproductive tissues, with preliminary evaluation in ovarian stromal cells as an aging-sensitive population.

The research deliverables will advance understanding of mitochondrial dynamics in reproductive biology and aging by providing controlled modulation of mitochondrial abundance and quality in vivo across specific tissues and developmental windows. This investigator-initiated biomedical research project addresses longstanding gaps in reproductive health and mitochondrial biology through innovative experimental approaches designed to overcome limitations of conventional genetic methodologies. The findings are expected to contribute to improved understanding of reproductive health outcomes and may inform strategies for enhancing mitochondrial quality control in reproductive tissues.