Bioinspired repair for pubovisceral muscle injury after vaginal birth
Official title: Pubovisceral muscle enthesis injury: A bioinspired approach to repair
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11630313 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly description of testing a bioinspired scaffold to repair PVME injuries that can help prevent pelvic organ prolapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $530,076 |
| NIH project number | 6R01HD115093-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11630313 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who have experienced PVME injury or are at risk of pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal birth may be eligible for related studies or future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without PVME injury or pelvic organ prolapse may not benefit from this specific repair approach.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the pelvic floor muscles heal after vaginal birth and whether a specially designed, bioinspired scaffold can guide a stronger, more natural repair. Researchers will study the native PVME tissue, how it changes after injury, and how it responds to a scaffold that mimics natural structure. The goal is to create a repair that improves outcomes compared with standard sutures, potentially reducing long-term complications for moms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the scaffold-based repair could improve pain, function, and long-term pelvic health after childbirth.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in tissue repair and biomimetic scaffolds has shown promise, but this approach is still exploratory for PVME repair.
Where this research is happening
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University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moalli, Pamela a. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Moalli, Pamela a.
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.