National long-term follow-up of people with interstitial cystitis (bladder pain)
Official title: RFA-DP-24-031: Longitudinal Follow-up of a Nationwide Multiethnic Cohort of Veterans and Non-Veterans with Interstitial Cystitis
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11163191 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Following people with interstitial cystitis across the U.S. to learn how symptoms, treatments, and related health conditions change over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $830,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DP006830-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163191 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a documented diagnosis of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, including veterans and non-veterans from diverse racial and geographic backgrounds, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without IC or whose bladder pain is clearly caused by other conditions such as active urinary infection, stones, or bladder cancer are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will follow a nationwide, multiethnic group of people with interstitial cystitis using medical record review, regular surveys, and clinical data collected over several years. They will compare veterans and non-veterans and look for links between bladder pain, treatments, mental health conditions like depression or PTSD, and social factors such as race, gender, and where you live. The team will also explore whether urine tests can help predict who will get worse or improve. Data from the Veterans Affairs system and other participating health systems will be combined to track typical care patterns and outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could reveal patterns that lead to earlier diagnosis, better-targeted treatments, and improved monitoring for people with IC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous CDC-funded work created a national IC cohort and estimated prevalence, but applying urine biomarkers and long-term follow-up to predict disease course is relatively new and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anger, Jennifer Tash — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Anger, Jennifer Tash
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Long-term study of a nationwide group of people with interstitial cystitis
A nationwide group of people with interstitial cystitis and similar cases will be followed over several years to understand how the condition progresses and how treatments work in real life.
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Understanding spinal cord cell roles in bladder pain and function
A study to map which spinal cord cells process bladder sensations and how they contribute to bladder pain and voiding problems in IC/BPS.
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How bladder support cells control the lining and bladder pain
Researchers are exploring whether special support cells in the bladder control nerve overgrowth and damage to the bladder lining in people with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).
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Spinal Cord Signals and bladder pain in IC/BPS
A new NIH grant looks at how specific spinal cord cells control bladder function and bladder pain in people with IC/BPS, aiming to uncover targets for future therapies.
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Personalized treatments for bladder pain (interstitial cystitis)
A treatment approach aiming at the underlying causes of bladder pain for people with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
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Spinal cord cell types that drive bladder pain in interstitial cystitis (IC/BPS)
Researchers will use precise lab tools to find which spinal cord cells cause bladder pain and troublesome urination in people with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).
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.