# A Computational Framework for the Clinical Evaluation of the Soft Tissue Mechanics in Pregnancy

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE · 2020 · $311,602

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Despite advances in prenatal care, the rate of preterm birth in the US and around the world remains
on the rise. This fact underscores how little we know about the causes of preterm birth, which is a
leading cause of neonatal deaths. Our ultimate research goal is to reduce the preterm birth rate and
the associated emotional and societal costs by providing a validated computational framework to
identify the potential for mechanical dysfunction in pregnancy. Researchers and clinicians know that
the healthy mechanical function of soft tissues surrounding the fetus is crucial for a successful
pregnancy. Particularly, the uterus, fetal membrane, and cervix must withstand mechanical forces to
protect, support, and maintain an optimal growth environment for the developing baby. The
magnitude of stress and stretch of these tissues are thought to control physiologic processes that
regulate tissue growth, remodeling, contractility, and rupture, and it is generally hypothesized that
these mechanical signals are clinical cues for normal labor and preterm birth. Yet, the mechanical
stress and stretch of these tissues during pregnancy have not been determined, limiting the
understanding of vital mechnobiology processes in pregnancy. To understand what causes the
mechanical dysfunction in pregnancy, we will build a finite element (FE) simulation framework to
identify the anatomical and/or material factors that drive uterine, cervical, and fetal membrane tissue
remodeling and deformation. To build and validate these computational models we will longitudinally
measure the anatomical features and cervical tissue properties of pregnant patients who are at low-
risk for preterm birth throughout pregnancy. We will also conduct multi-scale structure-function
studies on ex vivo cervical, uterine, and fetal membrane tissue to equip our model with features of the
underlying tissue ultrastructure. We will then construct a flexible, parameterized FE framework that
can directly incorporate our experimental measurements. Lastly, we will validate the FE framework by
assessing the predictive capabilities of the model based on experimental evidence, and we will
conduct a sensitivity study of material and geometric parameters to uncover the driving factors of
tissue stress and stretch. Upon completion of our proposed research study, we will have a
computational model of pregnancy that can identify the mechanistic cause of cervical, uterine, and
fetal membrane deformation and guide the development of appropriate clinical studies that target
women who are at high-risk for preterm birth.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9920018
- **Project number:** 5R01HD091153-04
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE
- **Principal Investigator:** Kristin Marie Myers
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $311,602
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9920018

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9920018, A Computational Framework for the Clinical Evaluation of the Soft Tissue Mechanics in Pregnancy (5R01HD091153-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9920018. Licensed CC0.

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