Age-related changes in FSH sugar tags and how they affect fertility and bones
Official title: Project 4: Age-Related Changes in Gonadotropin Glycosylation and Function
Funded at Wichita State University · NIH-11401807 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how changes in the sugar molecules attached to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as women age affect fertility and bone health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wichita State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wichita, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2009 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $298,172 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AG029531-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401807 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be women experiencing or approaching menopause where aging affects FSH activity and ovarian function.
✕Less likely to help
Women without ovarian aging-related fertility concerns may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
As women age, FSH changes its sugar makeup and this may alter how strongly it activates its receptor, impacting fertility and bone density. The project aims to create improved tests to distinguish FSH sugar forms and to study how these forms interact with the FSH receptor in the ovary. Researchers will compare different FSH glycoforms in laboratory experiments and in collaboration with other species, to uncover how aging shifts FSH activity and ovarian response. This knowledge could help explain age-related fertility decline and bone loss, guiding future interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to better diagnostics or treatments for age-related fertility issues and bone health.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest glycoforms of FSH have different biological activities, supporting this line of inquiry.
Where this research is happening
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Wichita State University
Wichita, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bousfield, George R — Wichita State University
- Study coordinator: Bousfield, George R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.