# Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Cranial Neural Crest Development

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · 2024 · $363,090

## Abstract

Abstract
The cranial neural crest (CNC) cells, the migrating multipotent cells giving rise to different
derivatives composing the majority of the craniofacial structures including bone, cartilage,
neurons, glia, smooth muscle, melanocytes and adipocytes. Abnormal CNC development results
in the most common congenital human birth defects like cleft lip/palate, craniosynostosis, and
genetic syndromes, giving a large impact of the life of patients and their families. Therefore, the
objective of our proposed study is to understand the molecular regulatory mechanism regulating
CNC development. Key Hippo signaling roles have been broadly observed in development and
diseases involving many different tissues and organs. However, Hippo's role in craniofacial
development is still poorly understood. Wnt signaling is known to play a pivotal role in CNC
development and cross talks with Hippo signaling in some context like in heart, whereas there is
a knowledge gap of Hippo and Wnt interaction in craniofacial development. We have obtained
promising preliminary data indicate that Hippo signaling interacts with Wnt signaling and plays a
critical role in regulating CNC-derived craniofacial development. In this proposed study, we will
dissect the important roles of Hippo-Yap pathway in CNC cells migration and differentiation, and
how Hippo and Wnt pathways cross talk to regulate CNC derived craniofacial development. The
goal of the proposed studies is to elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying CNC
development and help to develop novel therapeutic strategies and diagnostic tools for craniofacial
defects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10744204
- **Project number:** 5R01DE029014-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Jun Wang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $363,090
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-12-01 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10744204

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10744204, Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Cranial Neural Crest Development (5R01DE029014-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10744204. Licensed CC0.

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