FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friends of Prentice Awards $300,000 to 2024 Grant Recipients Affiliated with Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women's Hospital
Five deserving projects will receive funding to conduct important research in understudied areas of women’s health including ovarian aging, gynecologic cancer-related cognitive impairments, overactive bladder and more
July 29, 2024—Chicago, IL — Friends of Prentice (FOP), a non-profit organization that works in partnership with Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women's Hospital to improve the quality of women’s health at all ages and stages by investing in women-centric research. These five critical research projects are focused on ovarian aging, gynecologic cancer-related cognitive impairments, overactive bladder, the study of estrogen status in surgically created new vaginas, and feedback initiatives in residency education.
"It’s more imperative than ever to address the women’s health gap and disparities in care as a result of that gap,” shared Kristen Field, Executive Director, Friends of Prentice. "We’re so thankful to all of our donors and board members. The important research our grant recipients are conducting perfectly aligns with our mission of improving the health of women across the entire span of their lives."
Friends of Prentice works in partnership with Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women's Hospital to improve the quality of women’s health at all ages and stages by investing in women-centric research. The five projects chosen represent a variety of disciplines and serve a wide range of women. This year’s recipients include:
Human ovarian aging as a novel noninvasive marker of female reproductive longevity and systemic health
The ovary is vital for reproduction and overall female health. As the egg supply decreases from birth until menopause, there is a loss of fertility accompanied by endocrine dysfunction, increased bone loss, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline. Despite the consequences of reproductive aging, no technology can noninvasively monitor ovarian decline, thereby limiting the ability to predict reproductive longevity and develop therapies to extend ovarian function. The team demonstrated that the aging ovary becomes inflammatory and fibrotic, or stiff, with age, which impairs function. Given that fibrosis may be a barometer of reproductive wellbeing, the team pioneered the use of an ultrasound-based technology, Shear Wave Elastography (SWE), to noninvasively measure human ovarian stiffness. However, data demonstrating a link between this parameter and biological measures of ovarian and systemic aging are necessary. Therefore, the goal is to determine how SWE measurements relate to ovarian and systemic aging within the same individual. In women utilizing Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART), they will perform SWE, and assess the association of ovarian stiffness with quantifiable aging markers (inflammation, genetic, and epigenetic) in blood as well as in reproductive tissues and fluids that would normally be discarded. We anticipate that ovarian stiffness will serve as a novel biomarker and inform therapies for reproductive longevity. "This support from FOP not only cultivates my scientific grounding as an early-career physician, but also bolsters my steadfast commitment to improving reproductive health, shared Lydia Hughes, MD. “Alongside fantastic mentorship, I will explore the intricacies of ovarian aging in the lab and apply a noninvasive tool to advance our understanding of ovarian longevity, premature menopause, and other disorders across a woman's lifespan." The principal investigator is Lydia Hughes, MD (Fellow) & Co-I: Elnur Babayev, MD, MSc.
A Pilot and Mixed-Methods Study of Gynecologic Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (GYNCOG Study)
Ovarian and endometrial cancers are common and the two deadliest gynecologic cancers in the United States. They are estimated to be diagnosed in 19,680 and 67,880 women this year. Standard treatment includes cytotoxic chemotherapy which is associated with long-term cancer- related cognitive impairment (CRCI) in up to 75% of patients. CRCI manifests as memory deficits, impaired attention, and reduced cognitive function. It adversely impacts work productivity, quality of life, and cancer treatment follow-ups. Despite its prevalence and severity, CRCI in survivors of gynecologic malignancies remains understudied. This proposal investigates a validated cognitive training intervention in addressing CRCI-related subjective and objective cognitive changes. The team hypothesizes the cognitive training intervention will be feasible and acceptable to survivors, and improve cognition, workability, perception of health, and quality of life. Results will inform a future large clinical trial and ultimately enhance cognitive function and quality of life for gynecologic cancer survivors. “We are thrilled and deeply grateful for the support from Friends of Prentice to advance research on cognitive interventions for patients with gynecologic cancers experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment, shared Connor Wang, MD. “This grant will allow us to find better ways to improve the quality of life and cognitive health of women affected by gynecologic cancer. With the generosity of Friends of Prentice, we are excited to make meaningful and positive contributions to women’s health.” The principal investigators are Connor Wang, MD & Emma Barber, MD, MS.
Efficacy of pumpkin seed oil extract to treat symptoms of overactive bladder
Northwestern’s Women’s Integrated Pelvic Health Program (IPHP) cares for an average of 600 new female patients a year with bothersome overactive bladder symptoms. Patients are routinely offered behavioral changes, physical therapy, medications and procedures for this condition, but many are nervous about the risks, time commitments, wait times and costs associated with these therapies. Studies of US populations demonstrate that 25% of patients use complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for their health conditions and many of our patients express interest in using homeopathy for the overactive bladder. Unfortunately, evidence for the role of CAM in managing overactive bladder symptoms remains limited, and our patients should be empowered with scientifically validated guidance. This pilot study aims to address this gap in knowledge through monitoring changes in overactive bladder symptoms with ingestion of pumpkin seed oil extract supplement. This will also enable further insights on patient willingness to adhere to a CAM-based treatment. The principal investigator is Julia Geynisman-Tan, MD.
Estrogen Status of the Surgically Created New Vagina
The CARE clinic surgical team at Northwestern has developed a novel method for creating a vaginal canal for girls born with vaginal agenesis. Their method relies on the girls’ own tissue ingrowth through a porous acellular scaffold rather than placing tissue from another organ (skin, bowel, cadaver) into the space. While the team knows that this new method creates an organ that looks and functions very much like native vaginal tissue, we don’t know enough about the biology and histology of this new organ. Does it have the same squamous skin layer or the same folds as a native vagina? Could these girls develop squamous cancers of the neovagina? Does it contain estrogen receptors like a native vagina? Will these girls respond to estrogen creams to induce lubrication? There are many unknowns in this field and their patients deserve scientifically validated guidance. This is a translational pilot study that aims to understand the cellular composition of the neovagina that is created in these cases so that this new organ can be cared for properly in the short and long-term. The principal investigator is Julia Geynisman-Tan, MD.
Feed Forward: An Implementation Science Analysis of Feedback Initiatives in Residency Education
Residency is the training during which physicians develop clinical competence and independence. The feedback that residents receive during residency directly impacts the speed of skill development and the quality of the care they provide to patients. Feedback to residents thus represents a key avenue by which patient care can be improved. However, feedback in medical training is notoriously sparse and of low quality. In this study, the team utilizes a theory-based approach to assess a feedback initiative – representing a novel application of implementation science to medical education intervention. Specifically, they will use a validated framework to determine the factors which enable or prevent the successful implementation of the feedback program via a baseline survey metric and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis of these results will serve as the basis for improvements in how the feedback intervention is operationalized, using stakeholder focus groups. The team will then study the objective impact on key outcome metrics: faculty engagement with the feedback system (quantity) and quality of the feedback included. The principal investigator is Emily Hinchcliff, MD, MPH.
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About Friends of Prentice
Since 1985, Friends of Prentice has raised more than $25 million to support superior healthcare spanning the full spectrum of a woman’s life in our community and around the globe. Projects have involved women-focused areas such projects gynecologic oncology, ovarian cancer, reproductive aging, endometriosis, fertility preservation, menopause, mental health, heart disease, disparities in access to care, diabetes, uterine and pelvic medicine, genetic biomarker research, home health care, and more. Recipients have applied funding toward research, education and patient care programs as they continue their quest to improve women’s healthcare across all socio-economic, racial and gender identity backgrounds.
For more information about Friends of Prentice or how to get involved or support the organization, please visit www.friendsofprentice.org
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