Federal Grant Award Summary

Dartmouth College received a $450,250 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) for the period June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2028. The research project, conducted at Dartmouth's Hanover, New Hampshire facilities, investigates the overlapping and unique roles of three RNA-binding proteins (PATL2, PUM1, and PUM2) in regulating translational control during oocyte meiosis and early embryogenesis using mouse models. The research deliverables include mechanistic characterization of how these proteins coordinate post-transcriptional gene expression to manage critical meiotic events, including polar body extrusion, chromosome segregation, and meiosis II arrest.

The project produces scientific knowledge and data regarding the unique and shared messenger RNA targets of these three proteins, their spatial localization patterns throughout the cell cycle, and their functional interactions in the absence of other regulatory proteins. Findings from this basic research are expected to elucidate translational regulation mechanisms relevant to human oogenesis and provide insights into factors contributing to early embryonic loss and infertility, with potential clinical applications for reproductive health outcomes.