# Four-dimensional Modeling of Mouse and Human Nephrogenesis.

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2020 · $387,083

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The Genito-Urinary Developmental Molecular Anatomy Project (GUDMAP) has generated information and
research tools to enhance our understanding of the development of urogenital system, both informing and
stimulating research into urogenital development, and associated disorders and disease. Our proposed studies
focus on the developing kidney complementing existing data available through the GUDMAP website. The
functional unit of the kidney is the nephron — hence, our focus on obtaining a thorough understanding of
mammalian nephrogenesis. The current GUDMAP view of this process is largely two-dimensional and mouse
focused. We will harness recent advances in both static and live dynamic cell imaging, the access to human
kidney specimens and the development of pluripotent stem cell (PSC) culture-seeded nephrogenesis to extend
our understanding of both mouse and human nephrogenesis. In Aim 1, we will develop high-resolution 3D
views of mouse and human nephrogenesis through selective imaging approaches comparing mouse and
human nephrogenesis to develop comparative 3D molecular atlases of nephron patterning and nephron
morphogenesis. In Aim 2, we will take advantage of improvements in imaging and organ culture, and a bank of
genetically modified mouse strains, to perform time lapse imaging of the nephron progenitor niche, and the
formation, morphogenesis and patterning of the mouse nephron. Dynamic imaging studies will be applied to
pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived models of human nephrogenesis. Together, these studies will significantly
enrich the GUDMAP resource generating comparative 4D views of nephron development in the mouse and
human kidney. Given the recent advances in the directed differentiation of PSCs into nephron-like structures,
the studies will provide a benchmark for normal nephrogenesis that will guide the emerging field of
regenerative kidney biology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9944644
- **Project number:** 5U01DK110792-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDREW P. MCMAHON
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $387,083
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-15 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9944644

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9944644, Four-dimensional Modeling of Mouse and Human Nephrogenesis. (5U01DK110792-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9944644. Licensed CC0.

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