Childhood bladder inflammation linked to adult urinary problems in females
Early life bladder inflammatory events in female mice lead to subsequent LUTS in adulthood
This work looks at whether bladder infections or inflammation early in life in females can lead to adult urinary problems and related anxiety or depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323099 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a female mouse model to mimic repeated early-life bladder inflammation and then follow the animals into adulthood to see if they develop lower urinary tract symptoms and anxiety-like behaviors. They trigger bladder inflammation with a commonly used chemical model and measure bladder function, signs of inflammation, and changes in brain cells and circuits that control bladder sensation. The team compares mice that had early inflammation to those that did not to identify lasting changes in bladder–brain communication. Findings aim to point to biological steps that might be preventable or treatable in people who had childhood bladder infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People assigned female at birth who had urinary tract infections or significant bladder inflammation in childhood and now experience adult urinary symptoms may find this research relevant to future treatment options.
Not a fit: Patients whose urinary problems are clearly due to structural abnormalities, known neurological diseases, or causes unrelated to early-life bladder inflammation may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological mechanisms linking childhood bladder inflammation to adult urinary and psychological symptoms and suggest targets for prevention or new treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous adult-animal models show bladder inflammation can cause urinary and behavioral problems, but applying the same concept to early-life bladder insults is a newer approach with limited prior data.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zderic, Stephen Anthony — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Zderic, Stephen Anthony
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.