Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) awarded $426,250 in Project Grant funding (CFDA 93.865: Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research) to the University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc. for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. This R21 exploratory/developmental research grant supports a two-year investigation into the role of histone lysine lactylation (KLA) in male germ cell meiosis and spermatogenesis. The research will characterize how lactate regulates meiotic gene expression and recombination through histone modifications, with specific focus on identifying the roles of SLC16A1 (a lactate transporter) and HBO1 (a lactyl-transferase) during meiosis in male germ cells.

The primary deliverable of this grant is the establishment of histone KLA as a novel epigenetic mechanism regulating germ cell meiosis and the identification of previously unrecognized physiological roles of lactate metabolism in male fertility and genetic diversity. The research addresses a significant gap in understanding how lactate—the primary metabolite in male germ cells—functions beyond energy production to control chromatin modifications at meiotic hotspots where DNA double-strand breaks occur. This exploratory research is expected to generate foundational knowledge applicable to reproductive biology and potentially inform understanding of lactate's broader physiological functions in healthy cellular processes.