Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded the University of Maryland, College Park $426,346 under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113) for a project grant spanning May 10, 2026 to May 9, 2028. The research project investigates the direct effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), specifically phthalates, on the vaginal microenvironment and their potential role in promoting bacterial dysbiosis in women. The project will examine how phthalate exposure—a significant concern given widespread exposure through feminine hygiene products—interferes with estrogen signaling and alters vaginal microbiota composition and function, thereby contributing to reproductive health complications including preterm birth, infertility, and increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections.

The research will advance understanding of mechanisms linking chemical exposures to dysbiosis, addressing a critical knowledge gap in environmental health. Approximately 30% of women in the United States exhibit polymicrobial vaginal microbiomes associated with adverse reproductive outcomes, yet the factors promoting dysbiosis remain inadequately characterized. By characterizing phthalate effects on vaginal microbiota viability, composition, and the balance between protective lactobacilli and pathogenic polymicrobial communities, this project will generate mechanistic evidence supporting the development of exposure reduction strategies and interventions to improve women's reproductive health outcomes.