The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) was awarded a $117,959 Project Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865). This 2-year grant supports multiscale experimental and computational research to characterize pregnancy-induced remodeling of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs).
The key objectives are to: 1) Use cell culture models to determine the impact of sex hormones and mechanical stretch on PFM fiber growth and extracellular matrix composition, and 2) Define changes in whole PFM active and passive mechanics across the non-pregnant to postpartum continuum through ex vivo mechanical testing. This experimental data will then be used to develop a multiscale computational model simulating the interrelated effects of sex hormones, mechanical stretch, muscle fiber growth, and collagen deposition on PFM function. The overarching goal is to promote translational studies that can improve understanding of PFM capacity to withstand vaginal birth and avoid injury related to pelvic floor disorders.
Generated 3/18/25, 2:48 AM