# Mechanisms modulating cell identity in regenerative mammalian epithelia

> **NIH NIH K99** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $96,907

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Significance: Our tissues experience frequent damage from injuries, infections and disease. Many organs in
the human body can undergo self-repair to restore their function after damage. This recovery is accomplished
through the actions of adult stem cells, which generate new cells of diverse types to replace damaged material.
The capacity of adult stem cells to repair tissues makes them an appealing target for the development of
therapies to restore the health of tissues that have been impaired by injury or aging. However, much remains
unknown about how stem cell progeny adopt appropriate cell fates to repopulate tissues. This Pathway to
Independence Award proposal seeks to understand the mechanisms that generate specific cell types in
regenerative mammalian tissues.
Candidate and environment: The candidate for this Pathway to Independence Award, Dr. Kara McKinley, is
committed to leading an independent research group at the interface of cell biology and regenerative medicine.
Dr. McKinley was trained in cell biology and biochemistry in the laboratory of Dr. Iain Cheeseman at MIT, where
she uncovered mechanisms required for the assembly and regulation of the cell division machinery. During her
postdoctoral studies at UCSF in the laboratory of renowned cell biologist Dr. Ron Vale, she has developed
approaches for long-term live imaging of organoids, which are “mini-organ” culture systems that mimic the
cellular composition, architecture and responses of organs outside of the body. As described in this proposal,
she will apply her organoid imaging approaches, combined with the targeted application of defined signals, to
understand how extrinsic cues alter cell identity in two highly regenerative tissues: the small intestine (Aim 1),
and the uterine lining (endometrium; Aim 2).
Career development: During the mentored period, the candidate will gain additional training in mouse genetics
to translate her findings from in vitro organoid systems into in vivo contexts, and in reproductive biology to
translate her approaches from small intestinal organoids to endometrial organoids. Combining studies of the
small intestine and the endometrium presents a unique and powerful platform for her independent group to apply
common tools and approaches to reveal unifying features of regeneration, as well as to identify key aspects of
organ-specific physiology. The candidate will work with experts in mouse genetics and reproductive biology at
UCSF to build the necessary scientific skills to propel her research in these two complementary models. She will
also undertake a suite of training to support her professional development. The execution of this proposal will
equip the candidate with a formidable skillset and a robust platform to launch her independent research program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10022155
- **Project number:** 5K99HD101021-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Kara Lavidge McKinley
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $96,907
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2020-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10022155

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10022155, Mechanisms modulating cell identity in regenerative mammalian epithelia (5K99HD101021-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10022155. Licensed CC0.

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