Improving Erectile Function After Prostate Cancer Surgery
Official title: Preserving Erectile Function by Quantifying the Nerve-Sparing step of the Robotic Prostatectomy
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11123096 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to help surgeons better protect nerves during prostate cancer surgery, which can lead to better recovery of erectile function for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $733,887 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA273031-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123096 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for men who are undergoing or considering robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing prostate cancer surgery or those for whom erectile function recovery is not a primary concern may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
When men have prostate cancer surgery, their ability to have erections can be affected, and this varies greatly among patients. This project focuses on how surgeons perform the delicate nerve-sparing part of the operation. By carefully looking at surgical videos and patient results, researchers want to find the best ways to protect these nerves. The goal is to create new tools, including a virtual reality simulator, to help surgeons learn and improve their technique, ultimately leading to more men recovering their erectile function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could significantly improve the chances of men recovering their erectile function after prostate cancer surgery.
How similar studies have gone: While the need for improved outcomes is recognized, this specific approach of quantifying nerve-sparing techniques through video analysis and developing a skills feedback tool is a novel method.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hung, Andrew — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hung, Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New Diaphragm-like implant to prevent urinary leakage after prostate cancer surgery
A resorbable implant placed at the time of prostate cancer surgery helps men regain bladder control faster and reduces the need for pads or secondary procedures.
-
Pelvic fascia-sparing radical prostatectomy: a better-path to fewer side effects
A large research project tests a new surgical approach for prostate cancer that may reduce urinary leakage and erectile problems after surgery.
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Preserving Erectile Function during Robotic Prostate Surgery by Measuring Nerve-Sparing Technique
Aims to create an objective way to measure how well surgeons perform the nerve-sparing part of robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery to help patients keep erectile function.
-
Tools that light up cancer and nerves during prostate removal
This project develops cameras and safe fluorescent dyes to show prostate cancer margins and nearby nerves in real time during prostate removal surgery for men with prostate cancer.
-
PSMA-PET imaging to guide prostate removal and protect nerves
This will see if a PSMA-PET scan using the 68Ga-P16-093 tracer can help surgeons choose nerve- and muscle-sparing surgery versus wider removal for men having prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
-
Pelvic fascia-sparing prostate surgery
This research compares a pelvic fascia-sparing prostate removal to standard prostate surgery to try to lower long-term urinary and sexual side effects for men with localized prostate cancer.
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.