Program seeks Council approval for an initiative titled: “Centers of Excellence in Endometriosis Research”. Endometriosis is a chronic, debilitating condition that affects approximately 1 in 10 reproductive-aged women and is associated with symptoms including severe pelvic pain and infertility, as well as an increased risk for ovarian cancer, depression, migraines, and other pain conditions. Current medical and surgical treatments carry substantial risks and side effects, are associated with a a high rate of recurrence, and are best considered temporizing rather than curative. In addition, diagnosis is frequently delayed due a lack of understanding by patients and healthcare providers and the current requirement for surgical diagnosis, resulting in prolonged patient suffering and greater socioeconomic cost. Increased research is urgently required to improve our understanding of the basic biology behind this condition as a path toward non-invasive diagnostics, improved treatments, and ultimately cure.
The goal of this proposed initiative is to provide a platform to support novel, collaborative, synergistic research projects in basic, translational, and/or human subjects research which incorporate advances in the fields of genomics, proteomics, stem cell biology, inflammation, cell signaling, radiology and other relevant areas to address critical gaps in our understanding of this disorder.
This proposal aligns with the NICHD Strategic Plan 2020, specifically Theme 2 “Promoting Gynecologic, Andrologic, and Reproductive Health” and the Aspirational Goal to “Accelerate efforts to definitively diagnose, prevent, and treat endometriosis.”
Program Contact
Lisa Halvorson
Gynecologic Health & Disease Branch (GHDB)
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