# The Influence of HPV on Preterm Birth via Immunomodulation of the Microbiome

> **NIH NIH R01** · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $221,118

## Abstract

Summary: This diversity supplement relates to aims 2 and 3 of the parent grant and proposes to examine the
influence of (high and low) Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) on the risk of preterm births (PTB) and the possible
immune-modulatory role of the vaginal microbiome on such relationship, considering (Black or White) race as a
moderator. Aim 1 will estimate the association of HPV with PTB using logistic regression, overall and stratified
by high or low risk HPV. We will test race as a moderator for each strata of HPV via an interaction term. Aim 2
will additionally use structural equations modeling to separately estimate the effects of HPV on PTB directly
and/or indirectly through the microbiome and inflammation biomarkers. Findings from this study may have
significant public health implications for HPV vaccination especially for women who plan to become
pregnant. An association with HPV and PTB regardless of subtype may support the need for a broad-spectrum
HPV vaccine, inclusive of both, high and low risk subtypes. A differential association between HPV and PTB by
race within strata of HPV subtypes may suggest the need for tailored vaccine interventions. Finally understanding
the predominant path in the association between HPV and PTB will provide future targets for additional research
questions, potentially towards the development of clinical interventions or early diagnostic tools.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10264412
- **Project number:** 3R01HD092415-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Gregory Allen Buck
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $221,118
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10264412

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10264412, The Influence of HPV on Preterm Birth via Immunomodulation of the Microbiome (3R01HD092415-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10264412. Licensed CC0.

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