Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Michigan received a $429,000 Project Grant awarded on March 5, 2026, from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859). The research project, extending through December 31, 2030, investigates the cellular mechanisms regulating mammalian responses to fluctuating extracellular phosphate levels. The primary deliverables include fundamental scientific research advancing understanding of how cells sense, acquire, and maintain intracellular inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis—a critical process underlying energy metabolism, cellular signaling, membrane integrity, and nucleic acid synthesis. The project builds on preliminary findings identifying Pi-responsive signaling proteins including RGS14 and SGK1, as well as mechanisms governing both short-term and long-term cellular Pi responses.

The research addresses significant gaps in mechanistic understanding of cellular phosphate handling across diverse mammalian cell types, with direct implications for treating Pi homeostasis disorders such as rickets, muscle weakness, inflammation, anemia, and soft tissue calcifications. Through this NIGMS-supported investigation, the University of Michigan research team will generate novel insights into cellular Pi biology that establish foundational knowledge for potential advances in disease diagnosis and treatment related to phosphate metabolism disruption.