Grant: Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program

In Canada, 1 in 10 girls, women and unmeasured numbers of two-spirit, transgender & gender-diverse people live with endometriosis. This disease is defined as tissue that resembles tissue from inside the uterus, but which is growing outside the uterus. Endometriosis is a common cause of pelvic pain and infertility. The goal of my research is to use genetic data and imaging techniques and to correlate this data with pain and its underlying causes in endometriosis to identify potential new therapeutic targets. My particular focus is pain with sexual activity in endometriosis (called dyspareunia), which can be related to nerve growth occurring around endometriosis. I will work with patient partners to ensure this research is disseminated to the public. My research will help us understand the role of genetic differences in people with endometriosis, in terms of how they relate to symptoms, and their potential influence on the success of future treatments in endometriosis.