Understanding the Endometriosis-Related Microbiome and Metabolism to Improve Pain Care
Official title: Characterizing the Endometriosis Microbiome and Metabolomic Pain Phenotype
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11281804 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at a major university will look at how gut and reproductive tract microbes and NAD+ metabolism relate to endometriosis pain to help tailor treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $187,317 |
| NIH project number | 1K08AT014014-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11281804 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with diagnosed endometriosis experiencing chronic pelvic pain who are candidates for stool and tissue sampling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without endometriosis or those not experiencing chronic pain are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on endometriosis, a painful condition affecting millions, and explores whether differences in gut and reproductive tract bacteria and NAD+ metabolism are linked to how much pain people feel. By analyzing stool, ovarian, and endometrial tissues, researchers aim to find patterns that correspond with different pain experiences and quality of life. The study plans to group patients into subtypes that might respond better to specific therapies, with outcomes including pain levels and postoperative results. Researchers will use 16S sequencing to profile bacteria and NAD+-related metabolic pathways to understand their joint role in pain. The goal is to pave the way for more personalized approaches to managing endometriosis pain in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more personalized pain management strategies based on their microbiome and NAD+ metabolism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked microbiome and metabolism to pain, but this combination in endometriosis is an emerging area with promising but early results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Quevedo, Amira — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Quevedo, Amira
Related research
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This project explores how changes in CXCR4 gene regulation may help diagnose endometriosis earlier and point toward non-hormonal treatments for the condition.
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.