Bladder lining defenses against urinary tract infections
Mucosal Immune Defense Mechanisms of the Urinary Bladder
This project looks at how the bladder's lining and immune system change after infections to help prevent repeat urinary tract infections in adult 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 ID | NIH-11251214 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how past bladder infections change the bladder lining, immune cells, and gut bacteria in ways that make repeat urinary tract infections more or less likely. They use mouse models and cells grown from bladder tissue to examine lasting "memory" in epithelial stem cells and the role of T cells. The team will apply ATAC-seq and other molecular tools to map gene regulation tied to protection or susceptibility. The work focuses on uropathogenic E. coli, the most common cause of UTIs in adult women.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adult women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections who can provide medical history and possibly urine or tissue samples for research.
Not a fit: People without a history of recurrent UTIs, children, and most men are less likely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to prevent recurrent UTIs, lowering antibiotic use and the risk of resistant infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have shown that bladder remodeling and immune responses influence recurrence, but translating those findings into human prevention strategies is still early.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colonna, Marco — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Colonna, Marco
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 below.