The NIH awarded UTMB researchers more than $4.1 million over the next five years to test an anti-inflammatory drug capable of reaching and treating a fetus during pregnancy to prevent preterm birth.

Dr. Menon was recently interviewed about our new Organ-On-Chip Center grant, which was broadcast on FOX channel 26 on August 13.

Dr. Ramkumar Menon, professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, was recently awarded a prestigious five (5) year award from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Surendra Sharma, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, was recently awarded a prestigious prize from the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Ramkumar Menon, professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, was recently awarded a prestigious prize of $50,000 from the National Institutes of Health.

RO1 Project Titled Developing trimester-specific placenta organ on chips to model healthy and oxidative stress/inflammation-associated pathologies.

Congratulations to Dr. Lauren Richardson on being selected as one of only 4 podium speakers at the annual meeting this year. There are 76 BIRCWH scholars in the US so this is a huge honor! Her research focuses on bridging the gap between bench-to-bedside research by merging advanced engineering and biology concepts. The goal is research is twofold: One, to utilize microfluidic devices to collect underutilized biological fluids for biomarker screening, and two, to develop novel organ-on-chip devices that physiologically recreate in utero organs and organ systems. These devices are primed to replace traditional research approaches, limit animal models for research, and speed up preclinical experiments to get the drugs to clinical trials at a much faster pace.

CIRWH received a new research grant from CPRIT. The new award is for a study to examine the efficacy of using only two doses of the HPV vaccine in women 27-45 years of age. The award amount is approximately $2 million dollars. HPV is associated with cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, oropharynx, and penis. Fortunately, a vaccine is available which has the potential to markedly reduce, or even eliminate, these cancers. The CDC recommends that it be administered at age 11-12 years although it may be given as young as 9. For those not vaccinated at a younger age, it was originally recommended up to age 26. This was recently extended to age 45. The CDC estimates that 80% of those eligible need to be completely vaccinated to reach herd immunity. However, this goal remains out-of-reach as vaccine completion rates are extremely low in the US, especially among adults.