# Evaluating the role of photobiomodulation in human cervical remodeling in pregnancy

> **NIH NIH R21** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $243,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
In order for a fetus to deliver at term, the cervix must remodel, soften and dilate at the appropriate time in
pregnancy. If the cervix remodels prematurely, the pregnancy is at risk for spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB),
an obstetric dilemma that affects 1 in 10 pregnancies in the U.S. each year and places babies at increased risk
for neonatal death, lifelong comorbidities and/or mortality in early adulthood. Conversely, if the cervix exhibits
deficient or delayed cervical remodeling and dilation, the pregnancy may go past the due date which increases
the risk for perinatal morbidity/mortality and risks to the mother, including a doubling in the cesarean delivery
rate. To date, therapeutic interventions to prevent premature cervical remodeling leading to sPTB or inadequate
cervical remodeling leading to post-term pregnancies are limited and not entirely effective. Photobiomodulation
(PBM) using low level light therapy (LLLT) is currently being used in clinical settings such as wound healing as
PBM with blue light has been shown to induce vascular smooth muscle relaxation (increasing tissue perfusion)
and red/infrared light can modulate inflammation, ECM remodeling and mechanical strength of healing tissues.
To date, we have demonstrated that the internal os of the human cervix contains a significant amount of
contractile smooth muscle (that likely forms a sphincter which keeps the cervix closed during pregnancy) and
human cervical smooth muscle cells play a role in cervical ECM remodeling by secreting proinflammatory
cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Given that PBM can modulate smooth muscle contractility,
inflammation/ECM remodeling and tissue strength, in this proposal, we aim to determine if we can harness the
power of light and use LLLT to enhance or attenuate cervical smooth muscle mediated contractility,
proinflammatory/ECM remodeling pathways and cervical tissue mechanical properties. In addition, since our
team of multidisciplinary investigators includes world class engineers with expertise in human soft tissue
mechanics and electrical engineering, our goal is to develop a novel, wireless intravaginal LLLT device (for
subsequent validation non-human primates) that can emit specific wavelengths of light for controlled time
periods. The knowledge obtained from the proposed studies hold great promise for translation to clinical care as
novel treatments to prevent or reverse premature cervical remodeling leading to sPTB or to augment cervical
remodeling/dilation in women at term.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10288476
- **Project number:** 1R21HD106061-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Christine P Hendon
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $243,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10288476

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10288476, Evaluating the role of photobiomodulation in human cervical remodeling in pregnancy (1R21HD106061-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10288476. Licensed CC0.

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