How a protein called UCHL1 helps ovarian health and fertility
Official title: Requirement for Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase function in mammalian ovarian health and fertility
Funded at Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island · NIH-11262277 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether the protein UCHL1 helps keep eggs healthy and protects fertility in people with ovaries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $407,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111322-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262277 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult women (age 21+) who can donate blood or follicular fluid samples, for example people undergoing fertility evaluation or treatment, would be ideal candidates to contribute samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without ovaries, prepubertal children, or those seeking immediate fertility treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic and translational research right away.
What this research studies
You would be contributing to work that follows single-cell sequencing findings showing UCHL1 is highly present in developing egg cells. The team measures UCHL1 levels in blood and in follicular fluid from humans and runs experiments in mice that lack UCHL1 to see how eggs and follicles are affected. By comparing human samples and animal results, researchers aim to understand how UCHL1 supports the ovarian reserve and hormone function. The project combines lab tests, tissue and fluid samples, and animal models to link molecular findings to reproductive health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new tests or treatments to help preserve the ovarian reserve and improve fertility outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies have shown loss of UCHL1 causes subfertility and egg defects, but translating these findings to human fertility and using serum/follicular fluid UCHL1 as a marker is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grive, Kathryn J — Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Grive, Kathryn J
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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.