Bladder health education and continence support for Black and Hispanic women in Washington, DC
Official title: Assessment, Bladder Health Education, Continence Promotion, and Restoration to Improve Urinary Incontinence Care among Women at Howard University in Washington DC (ABCs-in DC)
Funded at Howard University · NIH-11224074 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program offering bladder health education and behavioral therapies to help Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women in Washington, DC reduce urinary leakage and get better care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Howard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 1997 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $471,095 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD007597-37 |
| Project ID | NIH-11224074 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult Non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic women in the Washington, DC area who experience urinary incontinence and are willing to try behavioral bladder therapies or education.
✕Less likely to help
Men, people without urinary leakage, those living far from DC, or people whose incontinence requires surgical or specialist medical treatment may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You will be asked to share your experiences with urinary leakage and barriers to getting care with researchers, clinicians, and community representatives. The team will use that input to adapt bladder health education and a behavioral bladder therapy program so it fits the needs of Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women in DC. The adapted program will be offered through Howard University clinics and community sites while the researchers track how many people use it, stick with it, and see improvements in leakage and daily life. Participant feedback will be used to simplify the program and make it easier for more women to access.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help more Black and Hispanic women access effective bladder therapies and reduce urinary leakage and its social and economic impacts.
How similar studies have gone: Behavioral bladder therapies and patient education have improved incontinence for many people, but tailoring and implementing these programs specifically for Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women in community settings is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Howard University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanses, Tatiana V.d. — Howard University
- Study coordinator: Sanses, Tatiana V.d.
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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.