Modifying macrophage phenotype as a potential treatment for endometriosis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Warwick Medical School
Abstract
Project overview:
Endometriosis affects approximately 176 million women worldwide and is associated with debilitating pelvic pain and/or infertility. Endometriosis is defined by the presence of tissue similar to womb lining (endometrium) outside the womb (lesions), most commonly on the wall of the pelvic cavity. Endometriosis is currently treated surgically or with drugs that suppress sex hormones. However, symptoms often recur after surgery and available medical treatments have undesirable side-effects. New treatments are desperately needed.
Endometriosis lesions have high numbers of immune cells called macrophages within them. The local inflammatory environment modifies these macrophages such that they promote growth, vascularization and innervation of lesions. This project will explore the modification of macrophage phenotype as a potential therapy for endometriosis.
Programme overview:
This MRC-funded doctoral training partnership (DTP) brings together cutting-edge molecular and analytical sciences with innovative computational approaches in data analysis to enable students to address hypothesis-led biomedical research questions. This is a 4-year programme whose first year involves a series of taught modules and two laboratory-based research projects that lead to an MSc in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research. The first two terms consist of a selection of taught modules that allow students to gain a solid grounding in multidisciplinary science. Students also attend a series of masterclasses led by academic and industry experts in areas of molecular, cellular and tissue dynamics, microbiology and infection, applied biomedical technologies and artificial intelligence and data science. During the third and summer terms students conduct two eleven-week research projects in labs of their choice.
Endometriosis affects approximately 176 million women worldwide and is associated with debilitating pelvic pain and/or infertility. Endometriosis is defined by the presence of tissue similar to womb lining (endometrium) outside the womb (lesions), most commonly on the wall of the pelvic cavity. Endometriosis is currently treated surgically or with drugs that suppress sex hormones. However, symptoms often recur after surgery and available medical treatments have undesirable side-effects. New treatments are desperately needed.
Endometriosis lesions have high numbers of immune cells called macrophages within them. The local inflammatory environment modifies these macrophages such that they promote growth, vascularization and innervation of lesions. This project will explore the modification of macrophage phenotype as a potential therapy for endometriosis.
Programme overview:
This MRC-funded doctoral training partnership (DTP) brings together cutting-edge molecular and analytical sciences with innovative computational approaches in data analysis to enable students to address hypothesis-led biomedical research questions. This is a 4-year programme whose first year involves a series of taught modules and two laboratory-based research projects that lead to an MSc in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research. The first two terms consist of a selection of taught modules that allow students to gain a solid grounding in multidisciplinary science. Students also attend a series of masterclasses led by academic and industry experts in areas of molecular, cellular and tissue dynamics, microbiology and infection, applied biomedical technologies and artificial intelligence and data science. During the third and summer terms students conduct two eleven-week research projects in labs of their choice.
People |
ORCID iD |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR/N014294/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2025 | |||
| 2498127 | Studentship | MR/N014294/1 | 05/10/2020 | 30/09/2024 |