Determining immune mechanisms that maintain reproductive health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Determining cellular and molecular mechanisms by which women's reproductive health is maintained to prevent disease and infertility
IRAS ID
261484
Contact name
Elizabeth Mann
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Diseases of the uterus have a major impact on the health and well-being of women by causing infertility and pain. Disruption in the normal development of the lining of the womb can cause common diseases of the uterus, involving significant pain and problem with fertility. Despite the immune system playing a key role in the development and repair in other parts of the body, its role in the womb is poorly understood. As such, the underlying causes of many diseases of the female reproductive system are yet to be fully understood, current treatment often fail to cure these diseases and most require long term management.
This project aims to determine how the immune system contributes to healthy womb function and how this is different in disease. Understanding how the immune system in the womb regulates tissue integrity to maintain a healthy lining of the womb will provide important potential new targets to treat in reproductive disease.
Our study aims to discover important molecular and cellular pathways that contribute to the maintenance of health and the development of disease in the womb. Specifically, we will identify genes, cells and molecules that maintain a
healthy womb lining, and how these are altered in patients with diseases of the womb that have caused an abnormal lining structure. We will focus on cells of the immune system as regulators of these processes.To achieve these aims, we will obtain endometrial samples from patients undergoing scheduled hysteroscopy or surgery and compare “healthy” tissue to tissue from patients with womb disease. Women aged 18-39 are eligible for this
study and no extra clinical interventions would be necessary.Our work will aim to uncover important biological differences that contribute to maintaining womb health and will identify potential therapeutic targets for reproductive disease.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
19/NS/0163
Date of REC Opinion
7 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion