Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center received a $419,375 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective April 1, 2026 through January 31, 2031. This award supports fundamental basic research investigating the systemic effects of metabolic enzyme dysfunctions, specifically focusing on d-2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) metabolism and its role in disease pathogenesis. The research aims to elucidate how interactions between interconnected metabolic pathways cause systemic disease and how individual enzyme dysfunctions cascade through the metabolic network to produce multiple physiological consequences.

The research employs Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to systematically study 2HG metabolism using mutated 2HG enzyme strains and advanced analytical techniques including metabolomics, isotope tracing, and genetic screening. The project's expected outcomes include new insights into metabolic pathway connectivity, clarification of how these interactions meet organismal physiological needs, and enhanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic disorders such as d-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria and metabolic rewiring associated with cancer development. This fundamental research supports NIGMS's broader mission of advancing understanding of biological processes to establish foundations for improvements in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.