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Functional and Molecular Characterization of Epithelial Subtypes in Cervical Remodeling and Preterm Birth

Award Number: R01HD110147
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/24/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

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Functional and Molecular Characterization of Epithelial Subtypes in Cervical Remodeling and Preterm Birth - Abstract Preterm birth due to an ascending infection accounts for 25-40% of spontaneous preterm births. Disruptions in the cervical epithelia that perturb its barrier and immune function is a risk factor for an ascending infection. Using single cell transcriptomic and spatial approaches, epithelia subpopulations were identified in cervices from nonpregnant mice and mice at gestation days 6, 12, 15, 18 and in labor. Unique to pregnancy was the expansion of two populations of secretory goblet cells which produce a distinct mucus network and immune surveillance factors. In the current proposal, we aim to identify the lineage of these secretory cells which express markers of both squamous and columnar epithelia, and to define the progesterone and estrogen dependent gene regulatory networks that regulate proliferation and differentiation of the two goblet subtypes. Using single cell datasets from mice with epithelial barrier defects or mice with exposure to lipopolysaccharide to induce inflammation, we will define perturbations in epithelial subtype functions that contribute to ascending infection risk. Finally, the expression of olfactomedin 4, one immune surveillance factor upregulated in the goblet cells in pregnancy, will be measured in cervico-vaginal fluid from women in each trimester of a term or preterm pregnancy to determine its utility to monitor cervical epithelial cell health and risk of spontaneous preterm births.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $564,299 )
2026	2026	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	4	1/5/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$564,299
														Subtotal = $564,299

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $626,998 )
2025	2025	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	3	4/11/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$62,699
2025	2025	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	1/8/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$564,299
														Subtotal = $626,998

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $624,219 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, THE	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	2	1/10/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$567,472
2024	2024	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	2	5/1/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$56,747
														Subtotal = $624,219

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $630,524 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, THE	5323 HARRY HINES BLVD	DALLAS	TX	75390	DALLAS	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	3/23/2023	NEW	$630,524
														Subtotal = $630,524

Grand Total All Awards = $2,446,040

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Functional and Molecular Characterization of Epithelial Subtypes in Cervical Remodeling and Preterm Birth

Award Number: R01HD110147

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/24/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

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