Multipurpose device for female-initiated nonsteroidal on-demand contraception
Active Project Grant Awarded Last action
- Award ID
- R33HD117424
- Recipient
-
University Of Health Sciences And Pharmacy In ST. Louis UEI NMMKG6CCEMW4
- Awarding agency
-
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
- Obligated
- $695,773
Award facts
- Assistance listing
- 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research
- Completion date 42% complete
- Place of performance
- St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Award details come from USAspending.gov.
Description
- Abstract
- The challenge of the future is to develop innovative, female-initiated contraceptive technologies that are afford- able, socially acceptable, and provide desired protection from unintended pregnancy without exposing women to additional health risks associated with systemic distribution of contraceptive hormones. Our preliminary data demonstrate discovery of drug-free, bioresponsive polymer compositions that dramatically increase in viscosity upon exposure to semen, thereby effectively preventing pregnancy in vivo. In an expansion of this pioneering smart (= system mute until activation by a remote trigger) polymer concept, we propose a novel delivery technology using an on-demand dual-compartment vaginal device that enables women to fortify the NAT- ural contraceptive barriers at the cervicovaginal junction without pharmacological action of drug mole- cules. This high-risk/high-reward research strategy is fundamentally different from conventional nonsteroidal contraceptive methods as IT represents a drug-free bioengineering approach intended to reach the human testing phase (i.e., IDE milestone for medical devices) much faster and at a lower cost than conventional development programs focusing on pharmacologically active agents. For this study, IT is hypothesized that development of a multipurpose device enables women to accurately deposit a small dose of a fabric-like, polymeric smart fiber mats intravaginally and, simultaneously, administer supplemental fluid to accelerate reconstitution of a biore- sponsive, acid-buffering, and mucoadhesive smart GEL phase that fortifies the natural contraceptive physical and chemical barrier properties at the cervicovaginal junction. In aim #1, we will design a dual-compartment device for female-controlled intravaginal administration of contraceptive smart fiber mats and fabricate proto- type devices for in vitro testing of critical device performance characteristics. In aim #2, we will conduct bench testing of dual-compartment device prototypes in vitro to evaluate fiber insertion and smart GEL formation. In aim #3, we will solicit feedback from women on acceptability and end user desirability of different prototype devices using focus group discussions to define human factors contributing to use-related safety and efficacy risks of the multipurpose device designed for female-initiated vaginal delivery of contraceptive smart fiber mats. Finally, we will assess performance, safety, and efficacy of the optimized multipurpose device for vaginal delivery of contraceptive smart fiber mats in vivo using the sheep model (specific aim #4).
Subawards
| Subrecipient | Amount | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Univ Of | $111,523 | |
| Oak Crest Institute Of Science | $226,656 | |
| Yale Univ | $70,350 |
Quick answers
Who received award R33HD117424?
R33HD117424 was awarded to University Of Health Sciences And Pharmacy In ST. Louis by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (National Institutes of Health) on February 1, 2025.
How much is award R33HD117424 worth?
$695,773 has been obligated on R33HD117424.
On GovTribe
See this award's full record
- Every transaction and subaward
- The recipient's other awards and teaming partners
- Similar grant awards
- Ask GovTribe AI about this award