This section highlights research collaborations that have come about as a result of utilising the EPHect tools.
LatiENDO is a collaborative research initiative that unites leading endometriosis centers across Latin America and Spain to investigate the genetic architecture and phenotypic spectrum of endometriosis in women from this historically understudied region of the world. By harmonising clinical, lifestyle, environmental, and biospecimen data across sites, the consortium will enable large‑scale genomic and phenomic analyses aimed at identifying region‑relevant risk variants, clinical patterns, and outcomes. Working closely with patient organisations, professional societies, and health authorities, LatiENDO seeks to translate its findings into evidence‑based strategies that improve diagnosis, management, and equitable access to care for women affected by endometriosis in Spanish speaking countries of Latin America and Spain.
LatiENDO is led by professor Idhaliz Flores (Puerto Rico), doctor Dora Koller (Spain), and professor Francisco Carmona (Spain), and has involvement from investigators in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guetemala, Mexico, and the USA.
The first coordinated efforts from the global south to generate prospective evidence on pregnancy outcomes among women with endometriosis establishing a multicentre clinical research platform focused on endometriosis, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes in the Indian population. The project examined how different endometriosis phenotypes influence obstetric outcomes in diverse populations, while contributing data from a low- and middle-income country setting to the global evidence base on endometriosis and maternal health.
ECGRI is led by doctor Rahul Gajbhiye, ICMR–National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (India), and brought together tertiary care hospitals and academic centres across several regions of India, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow, and Guwahati.
TRiPP focused on two specific types of chronic pain: endometriosis-associated pain (EAP) and bladder pain syndrome (BPS). Both conditions are currently treated by targeting the periphery (the endometriotic lesions in the pelvis or the bladder), but these treatments are often ineffective. The main hypothesis of TRiPP is that the pain symptoms experienced by women with these conditions are generated and maintained by mechanisms similar to those found in other chronic pain conditions, but occur in combination with specific pathological lesions and symptoms. We believe that reconceptualising these conditions in the context of the multisystem dysfunction known for other chronic pain conditions rather than as end-organ pathologies has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the conditions, allow us to identify meaningful subgroups of patients, develop better preclinical models and thus ultimately facilitate drug development in this field.
TRiPP was led by professor Katy Vincent, University of Oxford, and Dr Jens Nagel, formerly of Bayer Pharmaceuticals. It was part of the EU IMI-PainCare consortium comprising representatives from 17 consortium partners.
The MAR’A Project is an epidemiological study focused on gynaecological health in the Middle Eastern region, aiming to understand women’s reproductive health patterns and outcomes. The project collaborates closely with stakeholders and policymakers in the United Arab Emirates to provide evidence-based national strategies and actionable recommendations for 'best practise to improve women’s reproductive health across the region.
The project is led by assistant professor Mira Mousa, Khalifa University (UAE), and includes collaborators from Egypt, Jordan, and Saudia Arabia.