Spinal cord stimulation to restore bladder control after spinal cord injury
Effects of on-demand and early neuromodulation interventions on bladder function after spinal cord injury
Seeing if spinal cord stimulation can trigger bladder emptying and continence for people living with spinal cord injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11242066 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses epidural spinal cord stimulation—small electrical pulses applied to the surface of the lower spinal cord—to try to trigger bladder emptying and continence after spinal cord injury. Researchers are testing two approaches: on-demand stimulation that could be turned on when you need to urinate, and earlier stimulation after injury to prevent long-term changes that worsen bladder control. Work will be done in animal models that mimic chronic spinal cord injury to see whether these stimulation patterns can evoke useful bladder reflexes. The goal is to learn methods that could be adapted into human treatments or future clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with chronic spinal cord injury who have lost voluntary bladder control would be the main candidates for this line of research.
Not a fit: People whose bladder problems are not caused by spinal cord injury, or who cannot receive implanted stimulation, are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments that restore voluntary bladder emptying and better continence for people with spinal cord injury.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies and early human reports of spinal cord stimulation for bladder or motor recovery are promising, but restoring reliable bladder control after chronic SCI remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gaunt, Robert a — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Gaunt, Robert a
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.