SUMMARY
The research of Olivia O. Cardenas-Trowers, M.D., is focused on female pelvic floor disorders, which negatively affect quality of life and are costly to people and society. Specifically, Dr. Cardenas-Trowers studies the use of regenerative biotherapeutics to improve vaginal prolapse surgical outcomes.
Using techniques involving human cell culturing, animal modeling, and stem cell and extracellular vesicle exposure, Dr. Cardenas-Trowers conducts translational research. The goal is to discover targeted treatments to reduce the recurrence of vaginal prolapse after surgical correction.
Focus areas
- Improving perioperative outcomes. Dr. Cardenas-Trowers is particularly interested in reducing the risk of vaginal prolapse after corrective surgery. She teams up with basic science and translational researchers at Mayo Clinic to study adjunct treatments to decrease prolapse recurrence after surgery.
- Using cell and animal models. Dr. Cardenas-Trowers and her co-investigators conduct preclinical studies using vaginal fibroblasts and a mouse model to evaluate the safety and efficacy of regenerative biotherapeutics for pelvic floor disorders.
- Discovery of new therapeutic agents. Dr. Cardenas-Trowers collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to study innovative regenerative medicine techniques and therapies with the ultimate goal of improving people's care.
Significance to patient care
Vaginal prolapse is a common, life-altering pelvic floor disorder that involves the descent of one or more aspects of the vagina. Due to the aging demographics in the U.S., it is estimated that the number of women experiencing prolapse will increase 46%, from 3.3 million to up to 9.2 million, by 2050. Unfortunately, despite surgical correction, the rate of vaginal prolapse recurrence is high at approximately 30% to 46%.
Dr. Cardenas-Trowers' ultimate goal is to understand the effects of regenerative biotherapeutics on tissue wound healing so that ultimately new products can be created and implemented into practice. These new products may lead to improved surgical success for women undergoing vaginal prolapse surgery.