# Comparative toxicogenomics to determine conserved genetic and environmental interactions in craniofacial birth defects

> **NIH NIH K99** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2024 · $105,537

## Abstract

Project Summary
Craniofacial dysmorphologies are among the most common human birth defects. The multifactorial basis of
human birth defects has hindered identification of culpable genes and toxicants. Environmental exposures
occur in mixtures, and genetic variation can sensitize embryos to these mixtures. This proposal uses
bioinformatics and high-throughput analyses to predict and characterize multifactorial interactions in birth
defects using zebrafish and mice. The aims of this proposal are: (1) Define synergistic interactions between
environmental toxicants; (2) Model and characterize gene-environment interactions; (3) Test human disease
relevance and evolutionary conservation. This approach leverages my expertise in zebrafish and mouse
developmental toxicology to rapidly and efficiently gain insights into the most important unanswered questions
surrounding birth defect etiology. The studies proposed will provide a direct avenue for prevention through risk
communication of novel environmental and genetic risk factors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10824292
- **Project number:** 5K99ES034471-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Joshua L Everson
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $105,537
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-07 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10824292

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10824292, Comparative toxicogenomics to determine conserved genetic and environmental interactions in craniofacial birth defects (5K99ES034471-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10824292. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*