# Structure, immunity and microbiome: Human 3D biomimetics cervicovaginal models for sexually transmitted infections (SIM-STI)

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2024 · $1,516,681

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the most prevalent infections in humans worldwide. Decades
of studies using animal and cell culture models as well as ex vivo data have yielded considerable knowledge on
what causes these infections and how these infections proceed from the initial infection to disease outcomes.
The two most prevalent STIs, chlamydia and gonorrhea, are caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria
gonorrhoeae. Although many virulence factors are well characterized for these two pathogens, much remains to
be known about their path toward causing pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal infertility and life-threatening ectopic
pregnancy. Limitations of existing model systems are highlighted by a poor understanding of the role of the
cervicovaginal microbiota in gonococcal susceptibility or resistance to infection and often conflicting available
information on how C. trachomatis may persist silently in a host without symptoms to only reappear sometimes
years later and cause severe disease. The proposed Biomimetics Cooperative Research Center “Structure,
Immunity, Microbiome: Human 3D Biomimetic Cervicovaginal Models for Sexually Transmitted Infections”
represents a pioneering effort by collaborating engineers and molecular microbiologists to develop a novel three-
dimensional biomimetic model of the human cervicovaginal mucosa amenable to the study of STIs caused by
C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae. The model faithfully reconstructs the target tissue of infection by these two
pathogens including an anoxic environment, cervicovaginal epithelial cells, the underlying stroma with
fibroblasts, and the vasculature lined by endothelial cells, through which immune cells can be delivered to the
infected tissue. SIM-STI will allow for the first time an evaluation of the role of the cervicovaginal microbiota, the
menstrual cycle and co-infection on chlamydial and gonococcal pathogenesis and host response to infection.
This inexpensive, easy to use biomimetic model holds the promise of resolving many questions of pathogenesis,
but also to serve as a preclinical platform for testing preventive and therapeutic strategies against STIs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10810841
- **Project number:** 5U19AI158930-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** PATRIK M BAVOIL
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,516,681
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-20 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10810841

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10810841, Structure, immunity and microbiome: Human 3D biomimetics cervicovaginal models for sexually transmitted infections (SIM-STI) (5U19AI158930-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10810841. Licensed CC0.

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