How vaginal lipids, antioxidants, and protective molecules affect menopause-related genitourinary symptoms across races
A multi-omic and integrative longitudinal evaluation of the role of lipid, antioxidant, and osmoprotectant metabolites in the genitourinary syndrome of menopause by race and ethnicity.
Researchers are tracking vaginal and blood chemicals in postmenopausal women of different races to learn how lipid, antioxidant, and osmoprotectant molecules relate to genitourinary menopause symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mc Laughlin Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Great Falls, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11470677 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows postmenopausal women over time to measure vaginal bacteria and metabolites as well as blood markers related to lipids, antioxidants, and osmotic protection. Participants will provide vaginal swabs, blood samples, and answer symptom questionnaires at multiple visits, and researchers will combine microbiome and metabolite data. The team will compare patterns by race and ethnicity to understand why symptoms and biological changes differ across groups. Findings aim to reveal biological signals that could guide better prevention or treatments for menopausal urogenital problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Postmenopausal women with genitourinary symptoms who can provide vaginal swabs, blood samples, and complete questionnaires, with an emphasis on enrolling participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Not a fit: People who are not postmenopausal, do not have genitourinary symptoms, or cannot attend clinic visits or provide biological samples are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify biological markers or targets that lead to better prevention or treatments for vaginal and urinary symptoms after menopause, especially for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked vaginal microbiota and oxidative stress to menopausal urogenital symptoms, but this longitudinal multi-omic approach across diverse racial and ethnic groups is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Great Falls, United States
- Mc Laughlin Research Institute — Great Falls, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borgogna, Joanna-Lynn C — Mc Laughlin Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Borgogna, Joanna-Lynn C
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 below.