Understanding Cervical Changes in Pregnancy to Prevent Preterm Birth
Official title: Molecular and Mechanical Investigations to Define Collagen and Elastic Fiber Homeostasis in Cervical Remodeling During a Term and Preterm Pregnancy
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11113918 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how the cervix changes during pregnancy to understand why some women experience preterm birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $643,916 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD113224-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11113918 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients, but its findings are relevant to pregnant individuals, especially those at risk for preterm birth.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing pregnancy or at risk for preterm birth would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
The cervix plays a crucial role in protecting a baby during pregnancy and preparing for birth. This project explores the tiny building blocks, called the extracellular matrix, that make up the cervix and how they change over time. We want to learn how these changes normally happen and what goes wrong when a woman delivers her baby too early. By understanding these processes, we hope to find new ways to keep pregnancies healthy and prevent preterm birth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict, prevent, or treat preterm birth, improving outcomes for mothers and babies.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on the research team's previous findings that have shown how cervical tissue changes and how animal models can help us understand these processes.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mahendroo, Mala S. — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mahendroo, Mala S.
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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.