# Disentangling the genetic mechanisms of endometriosis severity with single-cell multi-omics

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER · 2024 · $731,893

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Around 10% of reproductive-age women have endometriosis, but the molecular drivers of this common chronic
gynecologic condition are poorly understood. Endometriosis is a major cause of pain and infertility in women, is
associated with significant financial burden, and multiple comorbidities including pain syndromes, inflammatory
and immune conditions, anxiety, and depression. Staging is commonly used to describe endometriosis in
research and in the clinic, but the biologic underpinnings of each stage are poorly understood. We have
recently performed key studies to map gene expression in endometriosis and endometrioma, uncovering
changes in cell type distribution, gene expression and predicted transcription factor network activities
associated with high or low stage disease. This project will focus on characterizing the epigenome of high and
low stage endometriosis, combining single cell epigenomics and multiome methods with state-of-the-art
analytic methods for dimensionality reduction, allelic imbalance detection and polygenic risk scores. In Aim 1
we will perform large-scale single cell epigenomic profiling to characterize landscapes of disrupted gene
regulation in low and high stage endometriosis; Aim 2 will dissect the allele-specific mechanisms of gene
regulation across endometriosis stages and Aim 3 will develop genetic predictors of outcome in endometriosis.
This project makes use of a large and unique endometriosis cohort study with deep clinical annotation,
longitudinal follow-up and >8000 biospecimens. The collaborative and multidisciplinary team have a track
record in successful collaboration resulting in high-impact research, and are focused on translating the insights
gained to improve diagnostics/screening and/or tools for predicting post-surgical outcomes to help personalize
treatment for endometriosis patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10860707
- **Project number:** 1R01HD114855-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Kate Lawrenson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $731,893
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10860707

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10860707, Disentangling the genetic mechanisms of endometriosis severity with single-cell multi-omics (1R01HD114855-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10860707. Licensed CC0.

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