Kirsten Sadler Edepli, a biology professor at NYU Abu Dhabi, has been granted a research project grant (R01) worth nearly $1 million by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The funding aims to facilitate her research on the aging liver’s decline in regenerative capabilities.
Edepli’s achievement is noteworthy as she becomes the first sole principal investigator and NYUAD faculty member to receive an NIH grant.
Edepli, a geneticist and cell biologist, is known for using zebrafish to study various aspects of development, disease, and regeneration.
Her work delves into the epigenetic regulation of toxicant responses, development, cancer in zebrafish, and regeneration in mice and octopus.
The research gains significance due to the increased risk of liver disease during aging when the liver’s regenerative ability diminishes.
The Middle East’s rising incidence of liver disease, notably in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, underscores the importance of such studies.
The R01 grant is a historic and primary NIH funding mechanism that supports research aligning with the organization’s health-related mission.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of NIH, focuses on crucial health concerns like liver diseases.