Fireside chat: successfully using experimental models in endometriosis research

EPHect has launched a new initiative: Fireside Chats, which provide an opportunity to chat with those who have first-hand experience, for everyone to pick each others' brains, and to learn from one another.

In this second EPHect Fireside Chat, endometriosis investigators Erin Greaves (professor at Warwick University, United Kingdom) and Danielle Peterse (postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School / Boston Children's Hospital, United States of America) share their experiences of how to successfully use experimental models in endometriosis research.

There are limitations in studying endometriosis in women - but models allow us to probe key events and processes in our laboratories - and EPHect published SOPs earlier this year on how to use heterologous, homologous, pain, and organoid models in endometriosis research. These SOPs include detailed methods and are freely available on this website. 

Key messages

• There is no perfect model that covers everything, so it is important to chose the appropriate model depending on the research question / hypothesis. The variables you need to consider in this decision-making process are described in the above-mentioned publications. 
   
• When deciding on the model for your research do consider availability of samples before you start out - and ensure you have sufficient budget!
   
• Models will deal with transplanted tissue, but cannot be used to investigate spontaneous disease origin and thus have limitations when it comes to studying heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue, etc.
   
• The importance of harmonisation, where possible, was stressed, ie. using the EPHect SOPs in conjuction with standardised reporting methods ensuring complete transparency. Linking to human data via the EPHect tools should be done, where possible, leveraging the fact that there are validated data collection tools available in 19 languages.
   
• The presenters reminded everyone, when studying pain, to be mindful that pain can be due to endometriosis, but also arise from invasive procedures - which is why the goal to develop non-invasive methods to assess lesions is so very important. 
   
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is, as always, a key to success.

Provide us with feedback

If there are topics you would like us to address in our Fireside Chats then please send us an email.