# MOLECULAR BASIS OF SMOOTH MUSCLE DIFFERENTIATION

> **NIH NIH K04** · THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY · 1994 · $68,715

## Abstract

My short-term goals are to develop my laboratory into a highly productive
scientific environment which utilizes current molecular approaches to
investigate questions of normal and abnormal embryogenesis.  My long-term
goals are to become a preeminent scientist in the field of developmental
biology and significantly expand our current understanding of the processes
involved in normal and abnormal embryonic development.  The long-term
objective of our research is to determine the developmental signals
necessary for the normal differentiation and maturation of smooth muscle
cells.  We plan to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for
smooth muscle development by determining the factors necessary for the
normal expression of the gamma-smooth muscle isoactin gene during the
differentiation and maturation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells in
vitro and in vivo.  Studies include the expansion of my current research
plan to include more detailed studies of the neurotrophic effects of
sympathetic ganglia on smooth muscle development, and an analysis of the
factors responsible for the normal development of smooth muscle cells in
transgenic mice.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2194499
- **Project number:** 5K04HD000996-03
- **Recipient organization:** THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** R8JEVL4ULGB7
- **Principal Investigator:** KIRK M. MCHUGH
- **Activity code:** K04 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $68,715
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1992-08-01 → 1997-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2194499

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2194499, MOLECULAR BASIS OF SMOOTH MUSCLE DIFFERENTIATION (5K04HD000996-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2194499. Licensed CC0.

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