Radiation effects on women's sexual function and related biomarkers
Novel Functional Anatomic and Biomarker Indices of Radiation-Induced Female Sexual Toxicities in a Multi-Center Cohort
This project looks for anatomical and biological signs that explain sexual problems women can have after pelvic radiation for cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184204 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will enroll women treated with pelvic radiation across several medical centers and collect medical history, imaging, and questionnaires about sexual function. They will take biological samples, including vaginal and stool specimens, to study microbiome changes and blood or tissue for molecular biomarkers. They will map pelvic erectile tissues with imaging and link those anatomic findings and biomarkers to symptoms over time. The goal is to identify measurable signs that predict who develops long-term sexual difficulties after radiation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult women who have received pelvic radiation for cancer and are willing to provide samples, imaging, and complete sexual function questionnaires at participating centers.
Not a fit: Women who have not had pelvic radiation or whose sexual problems are due to non-radiation causes may not directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict, prevent, or guide treatments for radiation-related sexual dysfunction in female cancer survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Related research has linked the microbiome to radiation-related gut toxicity, but applying anatomic mapping and microbiome/biomarker approaches specifically to female sexual dysfunction after pelvic radiation is largely new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marshall, Deborah Catherine — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Marshall, Deborah Catherine
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.