Dr Siobhain O'Mahony leads collaborative study between UCC, University of Edinburgh and Imperial College London exploring the impact of diet and the microbiome on endometriosis.

31 Mar 2021

A new collaboration between Dr Siobhain O’Mahony in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience UCC, Professor Andrew Horne and Professor Phillipa Saunders in University of Edinburgh and Dr David MacIntyre in Imperial College London will explore novel mechanisms in endometriosis, a debilitating syndrome associated with pelvic pain and infertility, which affects 1 in 10 women.

Dr O'Mahony explains that currently there are no accurate non-invasive biomarkers of endometriosis, diagnostic delay is common (approx 7 to 9 years) and current treatment options are limited to surgical removal of lesions (with high rates of recurrence) or drugs that have side effects. Health care professionals and patients agree that there is a pressing need to develop new approaches that focus on symptom relief rather than surgery. Women with endometriosis often explore lifestyle changes (e.g. diet and exercise) to alleviate their symptoms but evidence of effectiveness is lacking.

This collaborative study between UCC, University of Edinburgh and Imperial College, will see Dr Siobhain O’Mahony, Professor Andrew Horne, Professor Phillipa Saunders and Dr David MacIntyre test the hypothesis that diet and the gut microbiome and metabolites may influence the pain experience of women with endometriosis. The results of the study will inform both understanding of pain mechanisms and the development of patient-focused advice on diet. 

(Photo B.Riedewald)