Protecting kidney and bladder health in infants and young children with spina bifida
Urologic Management to Preserve Renal Function Protocol - Component C
This project compares early bladder testing and treatment with standard observation to help protect kidney function in newborns and young children with spina bifida.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11400826 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child is born with myelomeningocele (a form of spina bifida), this program uses early urodynamic testing to look for bladder problems that can harm the kidneys. Children judged to be at higher risk receive interventions sooner, and all enrolled children are followed closely on a set protocol during the first five years of life. The effort is part of a multi-center protocol (UMPIRE) that includes Duke as one of the enrolling sites. The goal is to preserve initial renal function and improve long-term bladder and kidney outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborns and young children with myelomeningocele-type spina bifida, particularly those enrolled early in life, are the ideal candidates for this protocol.
Not a fit: Children without myelomeningocele spina bifida or older children outside the early-childhood follow-up window are unlikely to benefit from this specific protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce early kidney injury and improve long-term bladder and renal health for children with spina bifida.
How similar studies have performed: Similar early-management approaches are logical but have limited high-quality evidence to date, and this protocol builds on clinical experience rather than established proof.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wiener, John Samuel — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Wiener, John Samuel
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.