MOSAIC: A hormone and microbiome model to predict sex-specific drug effects
Official title: MOSAIC: A mechanistic, multi-scale modeling framework for hormone-regulated host-microbiome metabolism to predict sex-specific therapeutic efficacy and toxicity
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11563946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new computer framework will model how hormones, metabolism, and gut-vaginal microbes together influence how drugs work differently in people of different sexes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | September 13, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $4,111,963 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2OD042817-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11563946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose treatment may be affected by sex-specific metabolism and hormonal status, including those receiving antibiotics or hormone-influenced therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions are not influenced by sex-specific hormonal or microbiome interactions may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project creates MOSAIC, an open-source, multi-scale modeling platform that links hormone regulation, metabolism, and host-microbiome interactions across organs to forecast drug efficacy and toxicity by sex. It uses AI-assisted data harmonization and integrates diverse datasets to parameterize sex-specific metabolic networks and microbiome pathways, especially estrogen metabolism and enterohepatic recycling. The approach aims to predict how vaginal microbiome and hormonal status shape local drug responses and guide personalized interventions. Researchers will validate predictions with experimental data and iteratively refine the model to enable scalable, translatable insights for patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, MOSAIC could enable more accurate predictions of who will respond to a drug and who might experience adverse effects, leading to more personalized therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous modeling efforts have shown promise in single-scale simulations, but MOSAIC represents a broader, cross-scale, sex-specific approach with limited direct clinical translation to date.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Papin, Jason — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Papin, Jason
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.