Grant: Project Grant

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic condition, affecting 10% of females of childbearing age and up to 50% of females experiencing infertility. It can cause severe pelvic pain and make it difficult to have children, which affects a person's quality of life. Although its cause is still unknown, problems with the body's immune system and biologic processes play a key role in endometriosis development. Studies show that endometriosis can appear differently in people from various ethnic and racial backgrounds. We believe that certain biological and clinical factors may be related to differences in how endometriosis presents, is diagnosed, and is treated among different racial/ethnic groups. This multi-institutional collaboration will compile and analyze pre-existing databases of 2000+ patients with endometriosis who completed standardized clinical questionnaires to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with endometriosis severity and clinical outcomes among Asian, Black and White patients. Endometriosis tissue and blood is also collected from patients receiving surgical intervention. Biologic specimens will be used to identify genetic, histologic, and cellular variations among different race/ethnicity groups. Machine learning techniques will be used to develop predictive models for early diagnosis and therapeutic targets. Cell lines and models of endometriosis will be developed to investigate cellular and molecular basis of disease, laying groundwork for our future research program. Our national team includes experts in clinical gynecology, reproductive science, social science, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Our team includes patient partners with lived experience to ensure our research is relevant and can be disseminated to community stakeholders. By examining both clinical and biologic factors associated with endometriosis, we hope to gain a better understanding of the disease to help with early diagnosis and develop personalized treatment options.