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Gynecologic Health and Disease Branch (GHDB)

Tissue under Microscope

Overview/Mission

GHDB aims to improve women's reproductive health by guiding and supporting gynecologic research and career development programs in pursuit of a future in which women lead lives free of the effects of gynecologic disorders.

The branch oversees research on uterine and genital tract health and all non-malignant conditions of the gynecologic system that can significantly impact whole body health. This portfolio includes studies of healthy functioning endometrium and typical menstruation, as well as menstrual problems and pain, especially related to gynecologic disorders such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, and fibroids. In addition to their association with other overall health problems, these disorders may affect fertility potential, delay pregnancy, and contribute to maternal morbidity and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The branch also has an interest in pelvic organ prolapse and other pelvic floor disorders.

  • Menstruation and Menstrual Disorders: Supports basic, translational, and clinical studies into healthy menstruation and endometrium, as well as the epidemiology, natural history, etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of menstrual disorders
  • Uterine Fibroids: Investigates the pathogenesis of fibroid development and growth to develop effective and safe treatments, including those that preserve the uterus
  • Endometriosis and Adenomyosis: Focuses on investigating key factors that contribute to the initiation, establishment, and progression of these disorders as well as development of sensitive, less invasive diagnostics to advance development of improved therapeutic options, with a focus on non-hormonal alternatives
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders (PFDs): Examines the accumulation and analysis of high quality evidence to inform directed methods for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PFDs
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders Network (PFDN): Encourages collaborative research to inform health care providers about prevention, diagnosis, care, and treatment of women with PFDs
  • Gynecologic Pain Syndromes: Supports clinical, translational, and basic research on gynecologic pain conditions including chronic pelvic pain, painful menses (dysmenorrhea), dyspareunia, vulvodynia, and vestibulodynia
  • Advancing Cures and Therapies and ending ENDOmetriosis diagnostic delays (ACT ENDO): Seeks to reduce delays in endometriosis diagnosis, improve treatments, and ultimately develop prevention and cure strategies.
  • Women's Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) Career Development Program: Provides the opportunity for obstetrician/gynecologists who recently completed postgraduate clinical training to further their education and gain experience in basic, translational, and clinical research

  • Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative (NIH HEAL Initiative®):  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative or NIH HEAL Initiative®, was launched in April 2018 to accelerate scientific solutions to address the national overdose crisis, including opioid and stimulant use disorders as well as pain.
  • NIH Pain Consortium: NIH established this consortium, of which NICHD is a member, to enhance pain research and promote collaboration among researchers across the many NIH institutes and centers that have programs and activities addressing pain
  • Trans-NIH Strategic Plan for Women’s Health Research: This 5-year plan highlights a multipronged pathway to advance a vision in which sex influences are integrated into the biomedical research enterprise; every woman receives evidence-based disease prevention and treatment tailored to her own needs, circumstances, and goals; and women in science careers reach their full potential

  • Candace Tingen, Ph.D., Branch Chief
    Main Research Areas: Uterine fibroids/leiomyoma; menstrual health and disorders; endometriosis; adenomyosis
  • Helena Ahn, Ph.D., Program Officer
    Main Research Areas: Gynecologic pain syndromes, including chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia; training awards (including F, T, and K awards)
  • Leigh Allen, Ph.D.,  Program Officer
    Main Research Areas: Small business awards (SBIR/STTR); product development; contraception as treatment for gynecologic conditions; perimenopause
  • Doris Chen, MPH, Scientific Program Analyst
  • Emily Jay, Staff Assistant
  • Donna Mazloomdoost, M.D., Medical Officer
    Main Research Areas: PFDs, including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence; obstetric fistula/female genital cutting
  • Ebony Parham, CCRP, PMP, Extramural Staff Assistant

Highlights

  • RADx® Tech ACT ENDO Challenge: Learn about this $3 million prize competition to shorten the time to diagnosis for endometriosis, eliminate the invasiveness of current techniques, and/or improve accessibility, safety, convenience, and costs of diagnosis.

  • NICHD Women’s Health Research Fact Sheets
  • Get to Know NICHD! Learn more about what inspired GHDB Chief Dr. Candace Tingen to pursue science and how her decisions and experiences led her to her career with NICHD.
  • Fourth Annual Gynecologic Pain Research Virtual Meeting. The goal of the Gynecologic Pain Research Virtual Meeting is to provide an opportunity for investigators in the field of gynecology and pain research to share research advances and to facilitate collaboration and networking, resulting in promoting and advancing gynecologic pain research. This meeting brings together investigators, clinicians, and patients to spur interest, share ideas, and discuss emerging trends within gynecologic pain research. Visit the meeting page to access the meeting recording, speaker list, and agenda.
  • Hot Topics and Emerging Trends in Gynecologic Pain Research. At this meeting, held March 2, 2022, investigators in the field of gynecologic pain research presented on emerging topics within their fields of expertise and discussed progress, successes, challenges, gaps, and potential future directions within both gynecologic pain research and the wider field of chronic pain research as it relates to gynecologic pain. Access the meeting recording or the meeting agenda (PDF 161 KB) for more information and links to speaker bios.
  • Physiomimetics and Organoids for Reproductive Health. At this workshop, held September 23-24, 2021, multidisciplinary experts on physiomimetics, sometimes called “organs-on-a-chip,” and organioids—complex, self-organized 3D-cell culture models that derive from stem/progenitor cells and maintain tissue-like architecture and structure—discussed applications of these technologies for reproductive health research. Access recordings from Day 1 and Day 2 , or the meeting summary (PDF 469 KB) for additional information.
  • Advancing Bioprinting and Regenerative Medicine Solutions for Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Pediatric Applications Workshop. At this workshop, held November 16-17, 2021, multidisciplinary experts in regenerative medicine research came together for a transdisciplinary discussion on the state-of-the-art of tissue-construct manufacturing using 3D printing of biological, cellular, and tissue-based products (a.k.a., bioprinting) and regenerative medicine in the context of obstetric, gynecologic, and pediatric applications.
  • Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. Former GHDB Chief Dr. Lisa Halvorson served as one of the guest editors as well as author of two articles in the November 2020 issue of New Perspectives on Adenomyosis (PMID: 33232984). Adenomyosis, defined as the presence of endometrial tissue within the uterine muscle (myometrium), is associated with pelvic pain, pressure symptoms on the bowel and bladder, atypical uterine bleeding, infertility, and pregnancy loss. The issue is a useful resource for clinicians and investigators and encourages increased study of this common disorder.
  • Progression of Gynecologic Cancers: Report of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and NICHD workshop. GHDB and the Division of Cancer Prevention and the Division of Cancer Biology at NCI organized a workshop in April 2019 to explore current insights into the progression of gynecologic cancers from benign conditions. This report highlights the key questions and challenges that emerged from the working group discussions and presents potential research opportunities that may advance our understanding of the progression of gynecologic benign conditions to cancer. PMID: 32835714
  • Revisiting Menstruation: The Misery, Mystery, and Marvel. GHDB Program Officer Dr. Candace Tingen and former Chief Dr. Lisa Halvorson are joined by NICHD Director Dr. Diana W. Bianchi to discuss the need for renewed research about menstruation and an end for stigma surrounding the topic. PMID: 32709301
  • Menstruation: Science and Society. Speakers from the Menstruation: Science and Society meeting convened by GHDB in 2018 provide an enhanced meeting report, capturing the spectrum from when the basic processes of menstruation commence and role of stem and progenitor cells in monthly regeneration to how dysregulation leads to abnormal uterine bleeding and other menstruation-related disorders such as adenomyosis, endometriosis, and fibroids to the clinical challenges in diagnostics, treatment, and patient and societal education. The work concludes with an overview of how the global agenda concerning menstruation, and specifically menstrual health and hygiene, are gaining momentum, ranging from increasing investment in addressing menstruation-related barriers facing girls in schools in low- to middle-income countries to the more recent “menstrual equity” and “period poverty” movements spreading across high-income countries. PMID: 32707266
  • Voices for Pelvic Floor Disorders: Information for New Moms: NICHD grantees at the University of Utah worked with the American Urogynecology Society to create a series of videos and educational information about changes to pelvic floor health that new moms may experience. The information, available in English and Spanish, includes some common changes, possible symptoms, and tips for when to talk with a health care provider. The series also offers stories from moms about their experiences and the treatments that worked for them.
  • How to Work Out Your Pelvic Floor (and Why Everyone Should): Dr. Donna Mazloomdoost, program director of the NICHD PFDN, offers insight on the importance of a strong pelvic floor and suggestions for how women can improve their pelvic floor strength.
  • Menstruation as a Diagnostic Tool for Women's Health (Podcast): GHDB Program Officer Dr. Candace Tingen spoke with NICHD Milestones about the science behind using a woman's menstrual cycle as a diagnostic tool.
  • Gynecologic Health and Disease Research at NICHD: A Scientific Vision (PDF 2 MB)
    Learn more about the scientific portfolio of the branch and its planned research directions.
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