Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas at Dallas received a $608,387 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), effective July 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031. The award funds research investigating vaginal microbiome-nociceptor interactions in endometriosis pain, with the primary objective of elucidating the bidirectional relationship between the vaginal microbiota and uterine-innervating nerve fibers that express calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The research employs mouse models of endometriosis combined with microbiota manipulation paradigms—including intravaginal antibiotic treatment, vaginal microbiota transplantation, and probiotic administration—to determine the mechanisms by which the endometriosis-associated microbiome contributes to pain sensitization.

The deliverables encompass three primary research aims utilizing chemogenetics and behavioral testing to establish causality in CGRP signaling pathways, characterize microbial-mediated nociceptor activation, and identify specific bacterial metabolites and host factors that perpetuate the endometriosis pain cycle. This project addresses a significant clinical gap, as current surgical interventions (lesion removal and hysterectomy) provide incomplete pain relief in many patients, suggesting additional non-surgical factors warrant investigation. The research is positioned to generate novel insights into pain mechanisms and potentially inform microbiome-based therapeutic interventions for endometriosis management.