Project Grant R56DE035489

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research awarded Northern California Institute For Research And Education, Inc. $499,022 on August 15, 2026, to conduct research elucidating the role of GS-GPCR signaling at the bone-vascular interface under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121).

The project investigates molecular mechanisms by which GS-GPCR signaling in endothelial and perivascular cells contributes to osteogenesis and fibrosis, using fibrous dysplasia of the bone as a disease model. The research addresses a gap in current understanding: while GS-GPCR activation in osteogenic lineages is well-established as a driver of bone formation and an effective treatment strategy for osteoporosis, fractures, and skeletal dysplasias via recombinant parathyroid hormone, the role of this signaling pathway in non-osteogenic vascular cells within the bone niche remains poorly understood. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from human fibrous dysplasia bone lesions revealed that endothelial and perivascular cells harbor mutations and express altered, fibrotic transcriptomes, suggesting that vascular cell lineages may contribute to the dramatic disease phenotype and may regulate bone formation more broadly.

Place of performance is San Francisco, California. The period of performance runs from August 15, 2026 through August 14, 2027. The award is a Project Grant, an assistance type supporting hypothesis-driven research under peer review.