Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Princeton University's Office of Research and Project Administration received a $369,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031. The Toettcher Laboratory will develop and advance innovative synthetic biology tools—including biosensors, optogenetics systems, and synthetic gene circuits—to measure and manipulate intracellular signaling pathways and understand how these pathways control critical cellular processes such as gene expression, cell differentiation, and tissue movement.

Over the five-year period, the research will deliver next-generation optogenetic tools and biosensors with applications spanning developmental biology and cellular signaling research. Specifically, the project will apply these tools to investigate developmental pattern robustness in Drosophila embryos, elucidate receptor tyrosine kinase feedback regulation, and conduct screens to identify regulators of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) signaling dynamics relevant to tissue movement and wound healing. The deliverables include light-switchable and kinase-controlled proteins for cellular control, along with fundamental insights into how cells interpret developmental signals and regulate signaling dynamics—research outcomes expected to have broad application across biomedical science.