How the uterus drains fluid and supports pregnancy
Official title: Structural and Functional Studies of the Uterine Lymphatics
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11505686 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will map how lymphatic vessels in the uterus grow and work during pregnancy and when not pregnant to help people with pregnancy-related and other uterine health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2018 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $773,166 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL141857-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11505686 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or who have uterine conditions such as unexplained swelling, recurrent pregnancy loss, or other reproductive-tract immune problems would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with health issues unrelated to the uterus or reproductive system (for example, non-reproductive cancers or orthopedics) would be unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
You would hear how the team is mapping the network of lymphatic vessels in the uterus and tracking how they form and change across the menstrual cycle, implantation, pregnancy, and after delivery. They plan to use high-resolution imaging, molecular markers, and analysis of tissue samples from lab models and available human specimens to chart growth, patterning, and remodeling. The researchers will examine how uterine lymphatics control tissue fluid balance and shape immune tolerance that supports the fetus. The goal is to link these basic findings to common uterine health problems and point toward new ways to prevent or treat them.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new causes of pregnancy complications, infertility, or uterine swelling and suggest targets for future treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Research on lymphatics in other organs has progressed and informed therapies, but detailed, pregnancy-focused study of uterine lymphatics is relatively new and partly novel.
Where this research is happening
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hong, Young-Kwon — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hong, Young-Kwon
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.