How obesity affects the endometrium and fertility in women
Official title: The impact and reversibility of obesity-induced molecular and functional alterations to the human endometrium
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11103860 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being overweight affects the lining of the uterus and how that might lead to issues like irregular periods and trouble getting pregnant, and it hopes to find out if losing weight can help improve these problems for women facing these challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $660,773 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD118022-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103860 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women of reproductive age who are experiencing infertility or menstrual irregularities associated with obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by obesity or those who do not have reproductive health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of obesity on the endometrium, the tissue lining the uterus, and how these changes may impact women's reproductive health. It aims to understand the molecular and functional alterations caused by obesity, particularly focusing on menstrual irregularities, anovulation, and infertility. The study will utilize both human primary cells and mouse models to explore these effects and assess how weight loss may reverse any damage to the endometrium. By analyzing a diverse group of women with obesity-related reproductive issues, the research seeks to provide a clearer picture of the relationship between obesity and fertility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved fertility treatments for women affected by obesity-related reproductive issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing obesity can improve reproductive health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schon, Samantha Beth — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Schon, Samantha Beth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
Aims to understand how GLP-1R‑agonist diabetes medicines may directly calm immune cells to reduce asthma in adults who are lean or obese.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Multicomponent lifestyle program to curb obesity and cardiometabolic risk in Samoan children
A locally designed lifestyle program aimed at preventing obesity and heart-disease risk in Samoan kids, with a focus on daily routines, healthy eating, sleep, and family support.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
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.