Bladder lining health and repair: genetics, cells, and metabolism
Investigating the Genetic, Cellular, and Metabolic Events Important for Urothelial Homeostasis and Response to Injury
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11380490
This work is learning how genes, cells, and metabolism affect the bladder lining to help people with non-cancer urinary problems like infections, overactive bladder, and reflux.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11380490 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
A Columbia University center brings together urologists, microbiologists, geneticists, and cell biologists to study benign bladder disorders. They combine patient data from large resources (LURN, UK Biobank, eMERGE) with urine microbiome analyses and genetic studies to find patterns linked to symptoms such as frequent urination, infections, and reflux. In the lab they use cell and animal models to study how PPARγ and metabolic pathways control the urothelium and how this affects healing and inflammation. The team is also testing whether existing approved drugs can change these pathways and improve bladder health, with the goal of moving promising findings toward human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with recurrent urinary tract infections, chronic lower urinary tract symptoms, vesicoureteral reflux, or other non-cancer bladder conditions who can provide medical history and urine samples would be most likely to qualify.
Not a fit: Patients with bladder cancer or unrelated health issues, or those needing immediate clinical treatment, are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to personalized tests and repurposed drugs that prevent or reduce common non-cancer bladder problems.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has already identified genetic risk regions and signaling pathways in the urothelium and early lab data suggest some approved drugs may have benefit, but clinical effectiveness is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MENDELSOHN, CATHY LEE — COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: MENDELSOHN, CATHY LEE
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.