Understanding how pregnancy changes muscles during childbirth to improve pelvic floor health
Official title: Multiscale Experimental and Computational Methods to Characterize Hormonal and Mechanical Contributions to Pregnancy-Induced Remodeling of Skeletal Muscle
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11514026 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project will study how hormones and mechanical forces during pregnancy remodel pelvic floor muscles to inform safer childbirth and reduce pelvic floor disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HD115224-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11514026 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women at risk of pelvic floor disorders who would benefit from improved understanding of childbirth-related pelvic floor changes or future patients contributing data or samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in childbirth or pelvic floor health may not directly benefit from this specific study.
What this research studies
This project uses a combination of experimental cell work and computer models to study how pregnancy-related changes affect pelvic floor muscles. Researchers will examine how sex hormones and mechanical stretch influence muscle growth and connective tissue in rat pelvic floor cells, and then use multiscale simulations to map these changes to pelvic floor function during birth. The goal is to build a better picture of why vaginal delivery can cause lasting pelvic floor problems and to inform prevention and treatment strategies for patients. The work combines lab experiments with computational modeling to translate basic findings into insights for clinical care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better prevention and treatment approaches for pelvic floor disorders after childbirth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that hormonal and mechanical factors influence muscle and connective tissue remodeling, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Routzong, Megan — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Routzong, Megan
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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.