Thursday, January 1, 2026 1/1/2026

Tapeworm stem cells as drivers of regeneration and reproduction

Award Number: DP2AI154416
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/05/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2027

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Tapeworm stem cells as drivers of regeneration and reproduction - Abstract Parasitic flatworms, such as tapeworms, have global reach and cause a wide variety of symptoms from intestinal distress and lethargy to organ failure, seizures, and even death. These parasites have complex life cycles and a remarkable capacity for growth, reproduction, regeneration, and longevity. These physiological traits are enabled by stem cells, thus understanding stem cell behaviors and regulation in these parasites has the capacity to uncover a broad range of potential targets that can be exploited for future drug development. My foundational work establishing the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, as a tractable modern model organism and my initial characterization of stem cells and regeneration in this system make it ideal for this study. My goal is to elucidate stem cell-driven regeneration and reproduction in this tapeworm. I seek to discover the signals that regulate stem cell potency and enable regeneration of tapeworm proglottids, which are each a functional reproductive unit. To this end, I will identify subpopulations of stem cells and functionally assay for pluripotent potential using innovative cell isolation and transplantation methodologies. I have previously shown that microenvironmental signals that regulate regenerative ability are anteriorly biased. Thus, I will undertake high- throughput gene expression screening and RNA interference by targeting factors that are polarized along the anterior-posterior axis across the regeneration-competent tapeworm neck. Furthermore, I will functionally identify genetic regulators of the germline lineage and investigate the potential plasticity of germ cells, as well as their coordination with mechanisms that govern proglottid regeneration. These innovative studies exploit the natural progression of parasite development to make genetic discoveries and take a stem cell-centric approach to illuminate parasite biology. This is significant as I will be able to make fundamental discoveries in both stem and germ cell biology, as well as in a greater disease-relevant context.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 E CAMPUS RD RM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	12/9/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $453,000 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 E CAMPUS RD RM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	2/12/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$453,000
														Subtotal = $453,000

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $453,000 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 E CAMPUS RD RM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	2/21/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$407,700
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 E CAMPUS RD RM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	4	5/23/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$45,300
														Subtotal = $453,000

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $453,000 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	2/23/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$453,000
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	003	3	4/10/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	002	2	4/4/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2023	2021	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	3/30/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $453,000

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $453,000 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	2/7/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$453,000
														Subtotal = $453,000

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $453,000 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	3/5/2021	NEW	$453,000
														Subtotal = $453,000

Grand Total All Awards = $2,265,000

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Tapeworm stem cells as drivers of regeneration and reproduction

Award Number: DP2AI154416

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/05/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2027

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