Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) awarded a $462,538 Project Grant to Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865) for the period of June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2028. The award funds research investigating CHD7-dependent regulation of migration and morphogenesis in the context of CHARGE syndrome, a congenital developmental disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 7 (CHD7). The research employs a cross-species approach utilizing the nematode C. elegans as a discovery tool and the frog Xenopus laevis to study impacts on kidney development, with particular focus on understanding how extracellular matrix (ECM) dysfunction contributes to CHD7-associated renal and developmental pathologies through TGFβ pathway regulation.

The deliverables from this project include scientific insights into CHD7's molecular mechanisms in kidney pathogenesis, characterization of ECM impacts in CHD7 loss-of-function models, identification of downstream genes and regulatory pathways, and advancement of understanding regarding neural crest cell specification, migration, and differentiation in developmental anomalies associated with CHARGE and related genetic disorders. The research outputs will contribute to the broader body of knowledge on human development and reproductive health, aligning with NICHD's mission to improve outcomes across the lifespan through rigorous peer-reviewed biomedical research.