Collagen and Elastic Fibers: How the Cervix Remodels for Birth
Official title: Molecular and Mechanical Investigations to Define Collagen and Elastic Fiber Homeostasis in Cervical Remodeling During a Term and Preterm Pregnancy
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11345245 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how collagen and elastic fibers in the cervix change to prepare for birth, and what goes wrong in preterm birth, using mouse models and human biology clues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $638,729 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD113224-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345245 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants may include individuals with pregnancies at risk for preterm birth or with cervical remodeling concerns, to inform translational relevance and future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without pregnancy-related cervical remodeling issues may not directly benefit from this basic mechanistic study.
What this research studies
This project studies the cervix’s extracellular matrix during pregnancy to see how its structure and mechanical properties change over time. Researchers will look at molecular pathways that control collagen breakdown and elastic fiber formation, using mouse models and cell culture systems. They will examine how these changes affect mechanical function at different length scales to identify factors that increase or reduce the risk of preterm birth. The work builds on existing data about cervical remodeling and seeks to clarify which processes keep remodeling balanced.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights into cervix biology could inform strategies to prevent preterm birth and promote safer pregnancies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in mouse models show that cervical ECM remodeling affects mechanics, supporting this approach as promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mahendroo, Mala S. — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mahendroo, Mala S.
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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.