Body clock's role in Chlamydia-linked fallopian tube infertility
Official title: Determining the role of circadian rhythms in Chlamydia associated tubal infertility
Funded at Morehouse School of Medicine · NIH-11326267 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether your body's internal clock affects how Chlamydia infections can damage the fallopian tubes and lead to infertility.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morehouse School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | May 24, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $142,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16AI175094-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326267 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with a history of Chlamydia infection, recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease, or unexplained tubal infertility would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without prior Chlamydia infections or those whose infertility is due to non-tubal causes are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Chlamydia infections can cause damage to the fallopian tubes that leads to infertility, and the researchers found that the time of day influences infection severity in prior work. In the lab they use mouse models, including a jet-lag model that disrupts circadian rhythms, and have seen more infectivity and tissue damage when rhythms are disturbed. The team will use genetically modified mice missing key clock genes (Bmal1, Per2, Cry1) to see how those genes change infection outcomes and will study which genes, proteins, and miRNAs are turned on or off. Results are intended to point toward whether timing or clock-related biology could be used to prevent or reduce Chlamydia-related tubal damage in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to timing-based approaches or new treatments to prevent or limit Chlamydia-related fallopian tube damage and infertility.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies, including work from this group, suggest circadian disruption changes infection severity, but applying this to human infertility remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Omosun, Yusuf Oseobhunu — Morehouse School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Omosun, Yusuf Oseobhunu
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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.