Chemical Clues in Chronic Pelvic Pain
Official title: Metabolomic Signatures of Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11143622 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for unique chemical patterns in the body that could help us better understand and treat chronic pelvic pain in men and women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $530,683 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK125860-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143622 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients experiencing chronic urologic pain disorders such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) or chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) are the focus of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without symptoms of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (UCPPS) causes severe symptoms like urinary urgency, frequency, and pain for millions of people. We don't fully understand what causes these symptoms, which makes diagnosis and treatment difficult. This project uses advanced techniques to find specific chemical signals in human samples from a large research network. By identifying these unique chemical patterns, we hope to uncover different types of UCPPS and develop new ways to diagnose and treat this condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new diagnostic tests and more effective treatments tailored to specific types of chronic pelvic pain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work by this team has already identified elevated levels of a specific steroid in a subgroup of female UCPPS patients, suggesting this approach has promise.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henderson, Jeffrey P — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Henderson, Jeffrey P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Exploring allergy-based triggers to prevent UCPPS flare-ups
A short, patient-friendly study will look at whether allergy-related antibodies can help predict and prevent flare-ups in people with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
-
Dual Cromolyn-Cetirizine oral capsule to help men with chronic pelvic pain
A new oral medicine combining cromolyn sodium and cetirizine is being developed to help adults with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain by targeting immune and nerve-related pathways.
-
A brief behavioral treatment for chronic pelvic pain
This project is testing a short behavioral therapy to help people manage chronic pelvic pain and related conditions like irritable bowel syndrome.
-
Using glial cells to reduce visceral pain in bladder conditions
This study is looking at how certain cells in the nervous system can be activated to help reduce the pain that comes with chronic pelvic pain syndrome, especially for those dealing with bladder issues, and it aims to find new treatment options that could eventually help people like you.
-
Improving treatment for chronic pelvic pain in men
This study is looking to create a new oral medication to help men under 50 who suffer from chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, by combining two types of medicine that have shown promise, and it will first test these new formulas in dogs to find the best one before trying it in people.
-
Investigating the role of food-specific antibodies in chronic pelvic pain conditions.
This study is looking at how certain foods might affect people with chronic pelvic pain, like interstitial cystitis and chronic prostatitis, to find out if changing what you eat can help ease your symptoms.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.