This Project Grant award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research (CFDA 93.121) program, provides $154,602 to the University of Pittsburgh to develop and study an existing mouse model of cleft lip and palate with known epigenetic contributions. The research aims to directly relate DNA methylation, gene expression, proliferation, and morphology in a single embryo to understand how genetically identical individuals can develop differing developmental trajectories, including the presence or absence of this structural birth defect. The first aim focuses on identifying the gene(s) responsible for the epigenetic modification and understanding how it functions as a modifier of the cleft lip phenotype. The second aim involves building imaging tools and computational models to understand how changes in cellular properties, such as proliferation and apoptosis, can lead to the cleft lip and palate phenotype. This research is expected to expand the understanding of epigenome-phenotype relationships and the mechanisms underlying orofacial clefting.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $154.6k | 6/18/24 |