Predicting Endometriosis Mechanisms and Populations (PEMP)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Establishing biomarkers of disease in endometriosis in order to understand the disease mechanisms and develop better diagnostic tools, treatments and prediction of outcomes for patients.
IRAS ID
362649
Contact name
Lea Wenger
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Endometriosis is a condition that is estimated to affect up to one in ten women globally, but both diagnosis and treatment of the disease are poor. Diagnostic delays can average 7-10 years, whilst treatments at the moment involve recurrent surgeries and hormonal contraceptives. Diagnosis often involves an MRI, followed by laparoscopic surgery, to determine whether there are lesions outside of the endometrium and whether these lesions are uterine tissue. If we are to develop treatments of the disease, we need a much better way of diagnosing women which is non-invasive and reduces clinical burden. We also need a much better understanding of what is driving the disease if we are to develop any better treatments. Menstrual fluid and biopsies give us the opportunity to look at molecular biomarkers (proteins, DNA methylation, cytokines) that could be good substitutes to surgery for diagnosis and may also inform us on disease mechanisms that can be targeted therapeutically.
This study aims to thoroughly characterise the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis, using menstrual fluid and biopsies of the uterus and the lesions. It will investigate cellular and tissue level biomarkers of the disease, included information that has been so far overlooked about the non-cellular parts of the tissue. By looking at disease signatures through multi-scale data integration, it aims to highlight specific biomarkers that may be used to develop better diagnostic methods, reducing time to diagnosis and improving care. In doing so, we may also shed light on what is driving the disease and causing symptoms in patients and using this IP develop novel non-hormonal treatments of the disease.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0043
Date of REC Opinion
4 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion