The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $15 million to establish two research centers focused on addressing health disparities in uterine fibroids, particularly among Black women. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, along with the NIH Office of Women’s Health Research, is funding this initiative to advance studies on uterine leiomyoma, commonly known as fibroids.
Uterine fibroids, non-cancerous tumors that grow in or on the uterine wall, affect approximately 70% of White women and 80-90% of Black women in their lifetime. However, Black women face more severe symptoms and complications, including faster-growing and more numerous fibroids, a higher likelihood of recurrence, increased risk of infertility, and a greater chance of requiring hospitalization or hysterectomy.
The University of Michigan, led by Dr. Erica Marsh, will examine differences in fibroid severity and symptoms between Black and White women, as well as the impact of life stressors on fibroid progression. They plan to develop an electronic health intervention to improve patient care.
At the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Elizabeth Stewart will lead efforts to diagnose fibroids earlier, identify barriers to care, and enhance patient-provider communication. The team aims to develop and distribute patient education resources to Black communities in rural Mississippi and urban Florida. They will also investigate systemic contributions to fibroid disparities and use artificial intelligence to analyze risk factors and improve diagnosis.
Each center will receive approximately $1.5 million annually for five years, totaling a $15 million investment in addressing this significant health disparity affecting millions of women in the United States.
See “NICHD announces funding for two fibroid research centers” (June 21, 2024)
