Nutritional factors shaping vaginal microbial communities
Official title: Nutritional landscape and community interactions in the vaginal microbiome
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11355571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how nutrients and metals in the vagina influence which microbes dominate and how they interact inside this unique ecosystem.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | July 8, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $364,314 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150785-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11355571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with vaginal health concerns or interest in microbiome health may be eligible for future related studies.
✕Less likely to help
People not directly affected by vaginal health issues or not participating in related future studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies the vaginal microbiome, a complex community that adapts to nutrient changes and interacts with the host immune system. Researchers will map how the vaginal nutrient landscape and metal availability affect which microbes persist and how they assemble into communities. Using interdisciplinary methods, the study seeks to define what healthy vaginal microbiota looks like and how dysbiotic states arise. The findings could lay the groundwork for future strategies to maintain or restore vaginal health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights from this work could lead to better ways to support vaginal health and prevent infections by guiding future therapies or preventive measures.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that microbiome composition relates to health states, but this project seeks to illuminate the nutrient-driven mechanisms in the vaginal environment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burcham, Lindsey Renae — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Burcham, Lindsey Renae
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Tissue fission and fusion: how cells shape organs during development
A study in zebrafish will explore how forces inside and between cells drive the splitting and joining of tissue to form body organs.
-
Strategies for HIV-to-HIV kidney transplants to increase organ donations
This project looks at making HIV-to-HIV kidney transplantation more common to help people with HIV get transplants faster by boosting organ donation and changing practice.
-
BRIDGEX: Safer, clearer AI-guided robotic surgery through shared learning
A project to let surgeons and engineers share and improve explainable AI tools for robotic surgery, while protecting patient data.
-
Optogenetic control of bacterial persistence to study biomaterial infections
A small NIH grant aims to use blue light to turn on a bacterial persistence mechanism in a lab model, helping us understand and fight infections on medical devices.
-
How fever and hot spots inside immune cells boost neutrophil defense against Staphylococcus aureus
This project studies how fever and hot spots inside immune cells affect neutrophil defense and bacterial survival, with a focus on Staphylococcus aureus.
-
Conquering Pain Together: A Family-Based Pain Support for Appalachian Breast Cancer Patients on AET
A family-centered program tests a supportive, culturally tailored approach to reduce pain for breast cancer patients on endocrine therapy in Appalachia.
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.