Program seeks to issue a new initiative for "Collaborative Integrative Research in Gynecologic Health."
The gynecologic conditions covered by this initiative (fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and gynecologic pain syndromes) can severely impact quality of life and are highly prevalent; a majority of women will experience at least one of these conditions in their lives. Detrimental effects of these conditions include abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic adhesions, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, miscarriage, and preterm labor, as well as substantial psychosocial morbidity including depression. The financial burden of these conditions is very high, with endometriosis and fibroids alone costing the United States between $28-56 billion every year.
This initiative seeks to advance knowledge about these conditions and accelerate identification of pathways for effective treatment by encouraging partnerships between experts in basic and clinical research to conduct integrated and synergistic research studies to accelerate the transfer of scientific knowledge from bench to bedside and back again. This initiative will support both the mechanistic and scientific priorities of the branch by enabling transdisciplinary projects in emerging scientific arenas, such as the role of stem cells in the pathophysiology of, or treatment for, gynecologic conditions and/or the application of state-of-the-art genetic/genomic technologies to research and treatment of these disorders.
The initiative builds on branch efforts to stimulate collaborative projects in this area including a Scientific Vision Meeting held with key stakeholders in the gynecological health research field. The proposed initiative will simultaneously address stakeholder suggestions to find ways to support and enhance synergistic translational approaches to gynecological health conditions, as well as the NICHD Vision document's general call to strengthen our understanding of gynecologic conditions.
Program Contact
Candace Tingen
Gynecologic Health and Disease Branch
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