Spinal Cord Signals and bladder pain in IC/BPS
Official title: Spinal Mechanisms Underlying Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndromes (IC/BPS)
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11349654 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $665,080 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139386-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11349654 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with IC/BPS or bladder pain syndromes who may participate in future translational or biomarker studies linked to spinal circuits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without IC/BPS or without bladder pain may not directly benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This project explores which spinal cord cell types regulate urination and bladder pain in the context of IC/BPS. Researchers will study these neurons in healthy states and in a bladder inflammation model to see how their activity changes. The goal is to understand whether altering these spinal circuits could lessen bladder symptoms and pain in IC/BPS patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new spinal-targeted therapies to reduce bladder pain and improve urinary function for IC/BPS patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests spinal circuits influence bladder control; this project builds on preliminary findings but remains exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Samineni, Vijay K — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Samineni, Vijay K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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).
-
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.
-
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).
-
National long-term follow-up of people with interstitial cystitis (bladder pain)
Following people with interstitial cystitis across the U.S. to learn how symptoms, treatments, and related health conditions change over time.
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.