Saturday, May 10, 2025
5/10/2025
Pelvic Floor Disorders Network 2021 - Pelvic Floor Disorders Network Cycle V Renewal – UT Southwestern PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Our primary goal is to actively engage in the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network (PFDN) through efficient patient recruitment, participation, and retention of a racially and ethnically diverse patient population in all studies examining pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) in women. Our second goal is to bring innovative research proposals to this Network with emphasis on translational aims that explore the pathophysiology and prevention of PFDs in well-defined clinical study populations. A final goal is to lead as primary site a multicenter trial studying prevention of urinary and fecal incontinence. To accomplish these aims, we describe the qualifications and experience of the Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) faculty and research teams at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Hospital, the facilities and patient population available to carry out clinical protocols, and our state-of-the-art scientific approaches to the study of PFDs. Our clinical and research clinics serve both medically indigent patients (Parkland Hospital) and private, insured patients (university practice) in the southern US. These clinics provide a diverse patient population which has allowed us to continually be the lead recruiter of Latina women in the PFDN. Throughout Cycles III and IV, even when not a full clinical site (Cycle III), we have remained committed to the successful retention and long-term follow-up of our PFDN study participants. In Cycle IV, we actively partnered in all aspects of the PFDN including concept proposal, committee participation, and manuscript preparation. Unique to our research team are urogynecology basic and translational scientists whereby our site has led the effort to manage and direct the Biorepository for the PFDN, which has remained housed at UT Southwestern for 15 years and has become integral to multiple recent translational research endeavors. Further, the scientific resources and infrastructure within our Ob/Gyn department are centrally focused on the role of proteomics, genomics, epigenetics and gene regulation in various aspects of women’s health. Moreover, we continue to contribute scientifically with multiple publications and ongoing writing team participation. Since 2015, when new hospitals opened for both UT Southwestern and Parkland, the FPMRS clinic population base has been surging. The FPMRS physicians at UT Southwestern remain dedicated to rigorous controlled trials intended to objectively evaluate principles of non-surgical and surgical care consistent with the mission of the PFDN. With a growing, diverse clinical patient population, a committed and seasoned research team with a pedigree of successful internal and external collaborations, and the resources and expertise to champion additional translational PFD research, UT Southwestern is ready and energized to continue in the PFDN as a clinical site.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).