Improving Care for Pelvic Floor Conditions
Official title: Pelvic Floor Disorders Network
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11139636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project brings together experts to find better ways to prevent and treat problems like urinary and fecal incontinence, especially for people with pelvic floor disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2011 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $276,250 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1HD069010-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139636 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients experiencing conditions such as urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, or other pelvic floor disorders, including African American individuals, may be ideal candidates for related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without pelvic floor disorders or related conditions would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project is part of a larger network dedicated to understanding and improving treatments for pelvic floor disorders, which can cause issues like urinary and fecal incontinence. Our team at the University of Pennsylvania includes specialists in women's health and urology, as well as behavioral experts. We are working on several specific areas, including surgical options for incontinence, understanding how gut health relates to fecal incontinence, and developing behavioral strategies to help manage these conditions. We also look at the costs of different treatments and explore new approaches like fecal transplants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to more effective and personalized treatments for individuals experiencing pelvic floor disorders, improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: The University of Pennsylvania site has been a significant contributor to the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network for two cycles, indicating ongoing success and collaboration within an established research framework.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harvie, Heidi S — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Harvie, Heidi S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Pelvic Floor Disorders Network site at Brown/WIH
A patient-facing site program that contributes to research on female pelvic floor disorders to improve care and outcomes.
-
Pelvic Floor Disorders Network Cycle V Renewal at UT Southwestern
A coordinated national effort to study pelvic floor disorders in women, with UT Southwestern leading efforts to recruit a diverse group of participants and to pilot a multicenter trial to prevent urinary and fecal incontinence.
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Pelvic floor disorder network site expansion at UCSD and Kaiser
A patient-centered research opportunity to help improve treatments for women with pelvic floor disorders through a multi-site clinical trial network.
-
Postoperative pelvic floor recovery with guided early exercise
A multicenter clinical site will test a guided early exercise program after prolapse surgery to help people recover faster without harming pelvic floor outcomes.
-
Pelvic floor disorders care network site at Duke University Medical Center
A Duke clinic site joins a national network to advance pelvic floor disorder care through standardized trials and high-quality patient recruitment.
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Pelvic Floor Disorders Network data center to help improve care for women
A national data coordinating center helps coordinate studies on pelvic floor disorders in women to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
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.