# CAREER: Investigating robustness during organogenesis with undergraduate researchers

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of Mississippi (MS) · $800,000

## Abstract

Organ formation occurs in individuals with different genetic variations and under different environmental conditions. While extreme genetic and environmental variations such as severe loss-of-function mutations or exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to birth defects, not all loss-of-function mutations or chemical exposures result in birth defects. This is because biological recovery and robustness mechanisms enable organ formation to occur normally over a surprisingly large range of genetic and environmental changes. This study seeks to identify these recovery and robustness mechanisms, specifically focusing on the heart. Knowledge of these mechanisms will help researchers understand how birth defects arise and may also lead to remedies. This study is enabled by utilizing the zebrafish embryonic model system which provide the unique benefits of high conservation to human development while being an intact genetically manipulable organism in which inter-tissue communication and organ development in individual embryos and can be observed in real-time. By intertwining this research with undergraduate education (courses and research experiences), this study will increase undergraduate participation in research while also elucidating fundamental principles of organ formation.

Heart development, similar to the development of other organs, occurs in uniform stereotypical stages. The initial stage of heart formation, called cardiac fusion, involves bilaterally specified myocardial

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2443480
- **Awardee organization:** University of Mississippi (MS)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** G1THVER8BNL4
- **PI:** Joshua Bloomekatz
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $800,000
- **Funds obligated:** $500,000
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 09/15/2025 → 08/31/2030

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2443480

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2443480, CAREER: Investigating robustness during organogenesis with undergraduate researchers. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2443480. Licensed CC0.

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