The University of Antwerp is looking for a thousand women who want to make their sexual organs available for new research. For the Isala project, the university works with “ambassadors of female health,” according to a press release.
For decades, there have been no real breakthroughs to treat typically female conditions. That is why the Isala project was launched four years ago, named after Isala van Diest (the first female doctor in Belgium; ed.). Then the university was looking for 200 women to take a vaginal swab for a citizen science project on bacteria – in this case known as the vaginal microbiome.
To the great surprise of the researchers, more than 6,000 women registered in one week. Isala became the largest study of its kind in the world, with projects in twenty countries. “That led to many international prizes and recognition, and to major breakthroughs,” says Professor Sarah Lebeer (UA). “Now we are starting a new phase and women can register again.”
“Afterwards you get personal results”
New participants can test which interventions have a possible effect on the bacteria in their vagina. “The ideas for these interventions come from the first research phase,” Lebeer continues. “In that phase we found interesting links with certain lifestyle factors such as diet, contraception, menstrual products, hormonal cycle changes and family ties. Now we actively want to find evidence for this.”
Isala also conducts research into the development of new therapies. And the university is also looking for volunteers to test various menstrual products. “What is unique about the Isala citizen science project is that you get your personal result afterwards,” concludes Lebeer. “The researchers tell you about all the interesting findings in an interactive way.”
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