The goal of the project is to gain critical insights into mechanisms of preterm birth where cervical dysfunction is the cause. Dr. House, a principal investigator at Tufts Medical Center, has been recognized as an expert in the uterine cervix.
Dr. House is a specialist in high-risk pregnancy in Maternal Fetal Medicine and received recognition as a "Top Doctor" in 2022 from from Boston Magazine in Maternal Fetal Medicine. His research interests include:
- design and evaluation of three-dimensional models of cervical tissue to study remodeling of the cervical extracellular matrix
- investigation of the cervical biomechanical function using mechanical modeling techniques
- study of the barrier properties of cervical mucus as it relates to protection against intrauterine infection
- development of novel therapies such as injectable biomaterials to augment cervical function during pregnancy
“Normal cervical function is critical for a healthy pregnancy but premature cervical shortening and dilation is associated with preterm birth, which affects 10% of pregnancies in the United States. As a clinician and a researcher, I am so grateful for grants like this to study this problem, Dr. House said.
