# Regulation of FGF signaling in lacrimal gland development

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $392,850

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The long term objective of this project is to investigate regulation of FGF signaling in lacrimal gland
development, which has important implications for understanding the etiology of diseased lacrimal gland in
human. The lacrimal gland develops through a branching morphogenesis process primarily driven by FGF.
We have previously shown that the Ras-MAPK pathway is an important downstream target of FGF signaling in
lacrimal gland morphogenesis. In this application, we will test the hypothesis that PLCγ is also a critical
regulator of FGF signaling in lacrimal gland development. Using conditional mutant mice and cell culture
models, we will study how FGF receptor recruits and activates PLCγ. We will also examine the crosstalk
between PLCγ and Ras signaling in lacrimal gland development. Finally, we will test the hypothesis that PLCγ
modulates the strength of FGF signaling by controlling endocytosis of FGF receptor. By investigating the
regulation of FGF signaling in murine lacrimal gland, this project will contribute to medical research in treating
human lacrimal gland deficiency and the dry eye disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10477997
- **Project number:** 5R01EY018868-13
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Xin Zhang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $392,850
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10477997

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10477997, Regulation of FGF signaling in lacrimal gland development (5R01EY018868-13). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10477997. Licensed CC0.

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