# Mechanisms that establish a functional stem cell niche during organogenesis

> **NIH GM R35** · EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY · 2026 · $168,918

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Stem cells are required for tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Accomplishing these tasks requires intimate
association with a niche, a cellular microenvironment that forms in a specialized tissue location with precise
morphology to enable communication with stem cells. Niches are formed by cells that must be specified for
niche identity, receive signals directing migration to the appropriate tissue compartment, and respond to those
cues with changes in gene expression and cytoskeletal behavior. Studying this has proven challenging, as
most niches are established during embryogenesis when the tissue is inaccessible to live imaging. Under
previous GM funding, my lab work established an in vivo live imaging method to enable exploration of each of
these facets in the assembling Drosophila testis niche, a tractable and conserved model. Foundational studies
in the adult testis have repeatedly unveiled concepts that apply to other systems, yet before my work, we did
not know how this niche formed. Our method permits direct in vivo visualization, revealing discreet steps of
morphogenesis. This application will perform lab work to investigate the underlying mechanisms for each step.
We ask (1) How are niche cells specified? (2) How do regulators of the cytoskeleton enable niche
morphogenesis? and (3) What signals direct the location of niche assembly? My previous work showed that
signals from adjacent visceral muscle (Vm) are required to assemble the testis niche during embryogenesis. In
response to signals, niche cells express the transcription factor islet (mammalian ortholog, Isl1), which I found
polarizes F-actin and regulates anterior niche assembly. An open question is whether F-actin polarization
directly enables niche morphogenesis, or if it is polarized in consequence of niche assembly. This application
will harness our in vivo imaging protocol along with an incisive optogenetic approach to test direct contributions
of cytoskeletal regula

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11269808
- **Project number:** 1R35GM162435-01
- **Recipient organization:** EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lauren M. Anllo
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** GM
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $168,918
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2026-05-01T00:00:00 → 2031-04-30T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11269808

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11269808, Mechanisms that establish a functional stem cell niche during organogenesis (1R35GM162435-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-09 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11269808. Licensed CC0.

---

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