Engineers at The University of New Mexico have received a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how men and women respond differently to nanomedicine throughout their lives. The project, led by Olivia Lanier, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, will focus on how hormonal changes such as those during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, hysterectomy, and menopause affect drug effectiveness.
Lanier’s lab aims to re-engineer nanoparticles for sex-specific medical applications. She stated, “Ultimately, the goal of this grant is to close critical gaps in women’s health by making nanomedicine more precise, effective, and inclusive. By understanding the biological differences that shape drug delivery, we hope to create therapies that are truly tailored to diverse patients across life stages, and bring us closer to equitable healthcare solutions.”
The NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) provides researchers with funding stability and flexibility intended to support innovative scientific work. Nanoparticles are already used in several medical treatments including chemotherapy, vaccines, pain management, and MRI contrast agents.
Women have historically been underrepresented in medical research. According to a 2024 report from McKinsey Health Institute, drugs are 3.5 times more likely to be withdrawn from the market due to safety concerns for women than for men. Lanier noted that this highlights longstanding issues with women’s exclusion from drug trials. She explained that despite known differences between sexes in immune response, liver metabolism, and protein binding in bloodstreams—all factors influencing drug behavior—nanoparticle-based treatments often follow a one-size-fits-all model.
The first stage of the research will use human blood samples, vaginal mucus samples, and animal models to identify why males and females respond differently to medications.
After identifying these mechanisms, Lanier’s team will explore vaginal drug delivery using nanomedicine—a method described as “underutilized but promising” for conditions like ovarian cancer. This approach could allow self-administration of drugs directly where they are needed while limiting side effects elsewhere in the body.
Angelea Maestas-Olguin, a postdoctoral fellow in Lanier’s lab, has developed a “vagina-on-a-chip” model which enables realistic testing of nanoparticle interactions with vaginal tissue barriers. This tool will help assess how hormones influence nanoparticle performance and guide development of safer drug delivery systems.
Lanier added: “We’re developing innovative delivery platforms, such as thermo- and enzyme-responsive hydrogels and biodegradable polymer discs, that can release nanoparticles locally or enable systemic delivery through the vaginal blood supply. This approach has the potential to transform treatments for conditions that disproportionately affect women, from reproductive cancers to fibroids and beyond.”
Lanier joined UNM last August after completing her postdoctoral fellowship at University of Texas at Austin. She also holds appointments in UNM’s School of Medicine Department of Cell Biology and Physiology as well as its Comprehensive Cancer Center.
