Wednesday, November 19, 2025 11/19/2025

Regulation of Organ Size and Shape by Fat Signaling

Award Number: R00HD092553
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2024

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Regulation of Organ Size and Shape by Fat Signaling - Project Summary/ Abstract Coordination of growth and morphogenesis during development is critical for formation of organs of proper shape and size and improperly sized and shaped organs often lead to organ malfunction and congenital anomalies. The protocadherins, Dachsous (Ds) and Fat constitute a highly conserved signaling pathway that regulates growth through its influence on Hippo signaling and morphogenesis by regulating planar cell polarity and oriented cell divisions. Consistently, mutations affecting this pathway result in a number of diseases affecting organ shape or size. Studies in Drosophila have provided important insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate organ size and shape by Fat signaling. Recently I have identified a new gene Vamana, which is a critical downstream component of the Fat signaling pathway. Additionally, my recent work has identified several novel regulators of this pathway and has led to intriguing findings that suggest that vesicular trafficking plays a crucial role in regulating Fat signaling, an aspect that is very little explored. In Aim 1, I propose to investigate the vesicular trafficking mechanisms that organize this signaling pathway. Specifically, I will study the interplay of ubiquitination and palmitoylation in trafficking of the components of this pathway. From a pilot genetic screen, I have recently isolated a novel mutation, Big round wings (Brw), which displays phenotypes characteristic of mutations in Fat-signaling pathway. In Aim 2, I will characterize how Brw, regulates this pathway. Finally, based on the success of the pilot screen, I propose to identify additional regulators of Fat signaling by an innovative forward gain of function screen. While my recent work has enabled me to generate these intriguing findings and the research plan, my immediate goals are to obtain additional training in live imaging, vesicular trafficking, ubiquitination and palmitoylation that are necessary to further develop these projects. I have arranged a group of distinguished mentors, who will provide me with this additional training. During the mentored phase of this award, I will train with Dr. Barth Grant to learn how to approach and solve problems in vesicular trafficking. My mentor, Dr. Kenneth Irvine will provide training in live imaging, and Dr. Marc Gartenberg will provide mentorship on development of the yeast based assay to identify substrates of palmitoyl transferases. The proposed training combined with my previous research experience will enable me to undertake a multipronged comprehensive approach to unravel novel molecular mechanisms regulating Fat signaling. This research plan will also provide insight into pathogenesis of congenital developmental defects arising from disruptions in Fat signaling. The pathway to independence award will enable me to acquire the training and resources I need to achieve my immediate research goals. Further, the proposed training and the innovative research program it supports will help me achieve my short-term goal of obtaining a faculty position at a major university or research institution. The award will further assist me pursue my long-term goal of understanding regulation of organ size and shape during development.


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: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$2,356 )
2024	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	1/17/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2024	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	5	6/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$2,356
														Subtotal = -$2,356

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2023	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	9/26/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $77 )
2022	2019	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	12/2/2021	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$77
														Subtotal = $77

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $244,006 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	8/25/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$244,006
														Subtotal = $244,006

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $248,966 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	4	8/19/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$248,966
														Subtotal = $248,966

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $248,998 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	8/14/2019	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$248,998
														Subtotal = $248,998

Grand Total All Awards = $739,691

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Regulation of Organ Size and Shape by Fat Signaling

Award Number: R00HD092553

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2024

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer