Life stress and supports linked to uterine fibroid risk in Black women
Multiple Stress Pathways and Positive Resources in UF Incidence and Growth
This project looks at whether life stress and personal supports affect the chance of getting uterine fibroids and how fast they grow in Black women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284114 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a long-term group of Black women whose clinic visits and health information are used to learn how stress across life relates to uterine fibroids. The research team uses data from the SELF cohort collected over many years, including regular clinic visits and health questionnaires. They will examine different types of stress and positive resources to see which are tied to new fibroid cases and to tumor growth. Findings aim to explain why Black women often develop fibroids earlier, with larger or more numerous tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The research focuses on Black/African American women of reproductive age similar to the SELF cohort—especially those without a prior fibroid diagnosis and living in the Detroit area.
Not a fit: People without a uterus, postmenopausal women, or individuals who are not Black or who live far outside the study area are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or reduce fibroid development and complications for Black women by targeting stress-related factors and strengthening supports.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work from the SELF cohort has improved knowledge about fibroid natural history, but linking life-course stress pathways to fibroid risk and growth is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wegienka, Ganesa Rebecca — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Wegienka, Ganesa Rebecca
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.