UMPIRE: Early Urologic Care to Protect Kidneys in Babies with Spina Bifida
Official title: Urologic Management to Preserve Renal Function Protocol - Component C
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11616588 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Duke and other centers follows newborns with spina bifida to see if early bladder tests and targeted treatment can protect their kidney health during the first years of life.
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 start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $41,999 |
| NIH project number | 6U01DD001276-05M004 |
| Project ID | NIH-11616588 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants with myelomeningocele diagnosed at birth who are enrolled in the UMPIRE protocol at one of the participating pediatric urology clinics.
✕Less likely to help
Not all children will require or benefit from immediate intervention; some may be managed with observation.
What this research studies
This project uses a prospective protocol to monitor newborns with myelomeningocele and implement early bladder management to reduce risk to the kidneys. Children are followed for the first five years with regular urologic assessments and interventions as needed. The goal is to identify the best early strategies to preserve renal function and improve long-term bladder outcomes. Families participate by bringing their child for scheduled tests and treatments at the participating centers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to better kidney health and quality of life for children with spina bifida.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has explored early bladder assessment, but robust, prospective data confirming superiority over observation are limited; this study aims to provide such evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
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.