Alternatives to Step Therapy for Overactive Bladder in Older Adults
Official title: Consequences and Alternatives to Step Therapy in Overactive Bladder Care
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11406295 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores simpler, patient-centered ways to treat overactive bladder in people 65 and older, to help them get effective care faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $390,001 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK144017-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406295 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 65 and older who have or are at risk for overactive bladder and who are navigating step therapy for treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose care is already optimized or who are not dealing with step therapy decisions may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
Older adults often face step therapy rules that slow or block access to effective bladder treatments. The project aims to compare traditional stepwise approaches with patient-centered, treat-to-target strategies to see which helps manage symptoms best. Researchers will gather information from medical records and patient experiences to understand how coverage rules affect care and outcomes. The study is conducted at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and involves adults 65+, focusing on balancing symptom relief with practical treatment choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could streamline care for older adults with OAB, reducing delays and improving symptom control.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research supports that patient-centered approaches can improve chronic disease management, but this specific OAB focus is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ippolito, Giulia Maria Rosa — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Ippolito, Giulia Maria Rosa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Microneedle delivery of Trospium for better tolerance in overactive bladder
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Culturally tailored AI-assisted digital therapy for bladder symptoms in Black women
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-
Predicting risks and outcomes of advanced overactive bladder treatments for older adults
This project will build a tool to predict which third-line treatments for overactive bladder are likely to help or harm older and frail adults.
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This research uses targeted, noninvasive brain stimulation to try to reduce urinary urgency, frequency, and leakage in women with multiple sclerosis.
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Long-lasting bladder treatment for urinary leaks and urgency in older adults
This project is creating bladder-instilled medicines that aim to give months of relief from urinary leaks and urgent urges in older adults who haven't been helped by current treatments.
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Microneedle patch to deliver trospium for overactive bladder
A tiny microneedle patch that delivers the bladder medicine trospium aims to reduce side effects and improve symptom control for people with overactive bladder.
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.