Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), under its Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), awarded University of California, Los Angeles a $315,000 Project Grant effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. This award supports basic research to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing mandibular outgrowth, with particular focus on resolving bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-dependent signaling pathways and their antagonists—specifically noggin (NOG), gremlin 1 (GREM1), and related regulatory molecules. The research leverages zebrafish models displaying micrognathia (underdeveloped lower jaw), a congenital anomaly affecting approximately 1 in 1,500 births, to investigate how BMP antagonists spatiotemporally regulate mandible growth.

The grant deliverables include fundamental research findings on mandible development mechanisms that will inform treatment options for micrognathia beyond current invasive interventions such as distraction osteogenesis. By examining a zebrafish model in which early cartilaginous skeleton patterning remains normal but later mandible growth is disrupted, the research addresses a previously understudied phase of mandibular development. The expected outputs include peer-reviewed publications, experimental data on BMP antagonist function and chondrocyte regulation, and mechanistic insights that advance understanding of skeletal growth disorders relevant to craniofacial health and disease.