Summary
- Major: Biology
- Faculty Mentor: Dr. Heather Burkin
- Research Topic: Advancing Tocolytic Therapies: A Multifaceted Approach to Combat Preterm Birth
- New Scholar: 2022 Cohort
- Graduating with a Baccalaureate Degree: 2024
Abstract: Each year, approximately 15 million premature babies are born worldwide, constituting almost every 10th child, with little improvement despite medical advancements. The research aims to address the pressing issues of preterm birth and perinatal health disparities by developing pharmaceutical agents to reduce uterine contractions and promote uterine quiescence. Dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) is associated with preterm labor, and inhibiting MMP-2/9 shows promise in delaying labor. To achieve highly selective inhibition of MMPs, we propose using tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) as a foundation for engineering new pharmaceuticals. Our central hypothesis is that an imbalance in the myometrial MMP:TIMP ratio contributes to premature contractions, and targeting MMP action will have a tocolytic effect. We will employ advanced protein engineering techniques to create TIMP variants with improved selectivity for MMP-2/9, aiming to reduce myometrial force production with fewer side effects. This research seeks to develop tocolytic therapies to prevent spontaneous preterm labor and improve pregnancy outcomes.