Using natural materials to create scaffolds for treating urinary incontinence in women
Official title: Natural Electrospun Scaffolds as an Alternative to Synthetic Mesh for Stress Urinary Incontinence
Funded at Novagyn LLC · NIH-11007976 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new, natural material to help treat stress urinary incontinence in women, aiming to create a gentle support that can dissolve over time and help heal the area better than traditional synthetic mesh.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Novagyn LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hopkinton, United States) |
| Project start | August 28, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $292,752 |
| NIH project number | 1R41DK139872-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11007976 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adult women experiencing stress urinary incontinence who have not found relief from non-surgical interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have stress urinary incontinence or those who have not undergone previous treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of natural electrospun scaffolds as a potential alternative to synthetic mesh for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in adult women. The project aims to develop a scaffold made from silk fibroin and polyhydroxybutyrate that can dissolve over time, promoting healthy scar tissue formation to support the urethra. By comparing this natural scaffold to traditional polypropylene mesh, the research seeks to improve outcomes for women who have not found relief from non-surgical treatments or who have experienced complications from synthetic mesh. The study will focus on the fabrication of these scaffolds and the attachment of extracellular matrix components to enhance their effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer and more effective treatment option for women suffering from stress urinary incontinence.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of natural materials in medical applications is promising, this specific approach using coaxial electrospun scaffolds for SUI treatment is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Novagyn LLC
Hopkinton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomson, Rebecca — Novagyn LLC
- Study coordinator: Thomson, Rebecca
Related research
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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.