Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Gene regulatory network plasticity in social behavior

Award Number: R35GM156952
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: 01/06/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2029

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Gene regulatory network plasticity in social behavior - Environmental and developmental variation play large roles in shaping phenotypes, yet our understanding of how phenotypic plasticity evolves and is mediated through gene regulatory networks (GRNs) is limited. This knowledge gap hinders our ability to predict how novel or changing environments will affect phenotypes, as well as the evolutionary consequences of these changes. To better understand how both adaptive and aberrant phenotypes emerge from GRN architecture, we need tractable models which vary in a phenotype of interest. The proposed research takes an integrative approach to address the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying social behavior in a group of bees with extensive variation in sociality within and between species. This natural variation enables us to study the mechanistic basis of plasticity across both developmental and evolutionary timescales. My proposed research combines functional genomics with computational biology and behavioral profiling to identify gene regulatory plasticity and the consequences of this plasticity in the evolution and development of social traits. I approach these questions from multiple angles, optimizing risk and reward and providing training opportunities for students and postdocs in genomics, computational biology, and behavior. Objectives of the proposal include: 1) identifying GRN changes associated with evolutionary gains and losses of social behavior, 2) molecular profiling of developmental stages and behavioral phenotypes to determine how GRNs generate intraspecific plasticity, and 3) experimental manipulation of common trans-regulatory environments and use of massively parallel reporter assays to identify context-dependent gene regulatory activity across species. Together, outcomes of these studied objectives would provide fundamental insights into how GRN architecture is modified and utilized during the evolution and development of social traits. More generally, this work will expand our understanding of how phenotypic plasticity emerges from changes in gene regulation, an underappreciated contributor to the evolution of novel phenotypes.


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 = $365,000 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE	500 S LIMESTONE	LEXINGTON	KY	40526	FAYETTE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	1/16/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$328,500
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE	500 S LIMESTONE	LEXINGTON	KY	40526	FAYETTE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	2	3/11/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,500
														Subtotal = $365,000

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $365,000 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE	500 S LIMESTONE	LEXINGTON	KY	40526	FAYETTE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	1/6/2025	NEW	$365,000
														Subtotal = $365,000

Grand Total All Awards = $730,000

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Gene regulatory network plasticity in social behavior

Award Number: R35GM156952

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: 01/06/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2029

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer