Thursday, November 21, 2024 11/21/2024

Evaluating the intersection between sexually transmitted infections, inflammation and reproductive success

Award Number: R01AI143653
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

Group Awards By:

View Award Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT Pregnancy loss occurs in ~20% of women with a clinically recognized pregnancy. Couples with histories of pregnancy loss represent a large portion of those trying to conceive, but treatment is limited to widely inaccessible fertility services. Data from the Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction (EAGeR) Trial has shown that preconception low-dose Aspirin therapy increases birth rates in women with histories of pregnancy loss when preconception chronic low-grade inflammation, determined by C-reactive protein, is present. There is a critical need to understand pathways that result in preconception chronic low-grade inflammation. This would help to identify a broader group of women whom would benefit from aspirin therapy and inform the use of aspirin in reproductive medicine. We hypothesize that prior exposure to common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can lead to long-term immune dysregulation and defective tissue repair. Among women with histories of pregnancy loss, STI serology may indicate subsequent risk of adverse events or represent a group of women who would benefit from preconception anti-inflammatory therapy. Prevalent and mostly asymptomatic STIs such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium can ascend to the upper genital tract causing endometrial inflammation, tissue damage and scarring. Unfortunately, most women acquire these STIs as young adults, but do not know they were ever infected. The concept of “trained innate immunity” posits that innate immune cells can develop a long-term proinflammatory phenotype following infectious stimuli induced through epigenetic changes to immune and epithelial cells. Indeed, these STIs are linked to tubal infertility but associations with other measures of impaired fecundity are limited. The specific aims of this proposal will: 1) determine if seropositivity to Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium influences time-to-pregnancy, pregnancy loss and birth rates in women with histories of pregnancy loss while adjusting for other STIs known to infect the upper genital tract. 2) Determine if STI seropositive women have a unique blood immune and angiogenic profile compared to seronegative women. 3) Determine if STI seropositive women previously randomized to Aspirin therapy as part of the EAGeR trial (results described above) have improved birth outcomes. This study will include 1078 women from the EAGeR trial. All women have histories of pregnancy loss but no history of infertility. Access to preconception data from a study with extremely detailed reproductive outcomes is unique. Additionally, our team includes a world-leader in STI diagnostics, which allows for robust serological measurements. We will also leverage the expertise of our team members, currently funded to develop methods to address generalizability, to transport our results to our target population of US women with histories of pregnancy loss using the National Survey of Family Growth. Given the profound increase in STI prevalence in the U.S. and the frequency of pregnancy loss, this study and our future work could impact a large number of women.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	10/14/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $466,498 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	5	3/3/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$463,595
2023	2021	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1801 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	11/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$2,903
														Subtotal = $466,498

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $502,191 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	004	4	6/2/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$60,152
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	002	4	2/16/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$455,589
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	005	4	6/3/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$60,152
2022	2021	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1801 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	003	2	6/2/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$60,152
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	3	12/14/2021	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$403,901
2022	2021	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1801 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	12/14/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$357,299
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	006	3	6/3/2022	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$60,152
														Subtotal = $502,191

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $466,688 )
2021	2021	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1801 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	2/2/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$466,688
														Subtotal = $466,688

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $492,768 )
2020	2020	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	1801 N BROAD ST	PHILADELPHIA	PA	19122	PHILADELPHIA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	2/27/2020	NEW	$492,768
														Subtotal = $492,768

Grand Total All Awards = $1,928,145

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Evaluating the intersection between sexually transmitted infections, inflammation and reproductive success

Award Number: R01AI143653

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer