Sunday, July 20, 2025 7/20/2025

Analysis of stem cell development and niche formation during Drosophila testis morphogenesis

Award Number: R15GM119075
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/05/2016
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2021

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Analysis of stem cell development and niche formation during Drosophila testis morphogenesis - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Stem cells are critical for organ development and tissue homeostasis. Their capacity to divide asymmetrically to produce both stem cells and differentiated daughters allows for replacement of dead and dying cells within a tissue. While maintenance of stem cells in fully formed organs is controlled by their microenvironment, or stem cell niche, mechanisms controlling stem cell development remain less clear. Indeed, the dramatic changes in cell signaling, migration and morphology that accompany organogenesis in many organisms make a comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms difficult. Thus, studies in highly tractable systems are required to gain a thorough understanding of stem cell development during organogenesis. Drosophila testes are among the most thoroughly characterized systems for studying stem cell behavior. In adult flies, sperm- producing germline stem cells (GSCs) and somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs) whose progeny nurture spermatogenesis, cohabit a discrete stem cell niche at the testis apex. Work by the Wawersik lab has shown that functional, asymmetrically dividing GSCs are first established from primordial germ cell (PGCs) at the end of embryogenesis. This process is coordinated by formation of the stem cell niche, which includes newly established CySCs as well as somatic hub cells to which GSCs and CySCs become docked. With the timing of stem cell establishment characterized, Drosophila testes are an ideal system to study mechanisms controlling stem cell development during organogenesis. Here, we propose experiments aimed at characterizing the fate and morphogenesis of somatic precursor cells that give rise to the testis stem cell niche (Aim 1), as well as determining mechanisms controlling these processes (Aims 2 & 3).


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: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2016	COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY, THE	261 RICHMOND RD	WILLIAMSBURG	VA	23185	JAMES CITY	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	3/6/2022	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2021	2016	COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY, THE	261 RICHMOND RD	WILLIAMSBURG	VA	23185	JAMES CITY	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	3/8/2021	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2020	2016	COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY, THE	261 RICHMOND RD	WILLIAMSBURG	VA	23185	JAMES CITY	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	7/17/2020	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $440,853 )
2016	2016	COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY	P.O. BOX 8795	WILLIAMSBURG	VA	23187	WILLIAMSBURG CITY	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	8/5/2016	NEW	$440,853
														Subtotal = $440,853

Grand Total All Awards = $440,853

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Analysis of stem cell development and niche formation during Drosophila testis morphogenesis

Award Number: R15GM119075

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/05/2016

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2021

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer