Data-driven hormonal modeling of vaginal tissue changes across a woman’s life
Official title: Data-Driven Computational Approaches for Hormone-Regulated Vaginal Tissue Remodeling Across the Lifespan
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11563847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A data-driven, physics-informed computer model will map how hormones drive vaginal tissue remodeling across puberty, reproductive life, and menopause to help predict risks and tailor therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | September 13, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,910,865 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2OD042813-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11563847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women experiencing hormonal changes across puberty to menopause, and those with pelvic floor concerns seeking safer, tailored interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without hormonal-related pelvic health concerns or those not seeking personalized tissue remodeling insights may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds a dynamic model of the vagina that uses hormone levels and tissue data to predict how pelvic tissues adapt over a woman’s life. Researchers will combine patient-derived hormonal information with physical principles to create a framework that shows how changes in puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and aging influence pelvic health. The goal is to move beyond static models and enable personalized predictions of disorders like pelvic floor problems and genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The work combines data analysis, computational modeling, and interdisciplinary collaboration to translate biology into clinically useful insights. If successful, clinicians could better anticipate risk and customize treatment timing based on a woman’s hormonal state.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to better prediction of pelvic health issues and more personalized therapies for women across life stages.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary computational approaches have shown promise in tissue remodeling modeling, but this project advances to a hormone-driven, lifespan framework.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Vita, Raffaella — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: De Vita, Raffaella
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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.