Understanding a key pathway for bladder issues in aging men
Official title: Nitric Oxide-Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Pathway as a Target for Male Bladder Outlet Obstruction and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Aging
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11170437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores a specific body pathway to find new ways to help aging men with common bladder problems like frequent urination and difficulty emptying their bladder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $698,978 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134386-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men aged 50 and older experiencing symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as frequent urination, urgency, or difficulty emptying their bladder, are the focus of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose bladder issues are not related to benign prostatic hyperplasia or the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Many aging men experience bladder outlet obstruction and lower urinary tract symptoms, often due to an enlarged prostate. Current medications don't always work well or can have unwanted side effects. This project focuses on the nitric oxide-soluble guanylate cyclase pathway, which plays a role in how bladder muscles relax and contract. By understanding this pathway better, we hope to discover new targets for medications. This could lead to more effective treatments for bladder issues in men as they age.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective treatments for bladder problems in aging men, especially for those who don't respond to current therapies.
How similar studies have gone: While PDE5 inhibitors, which interact with this pathway, are already approved for BPH/LUTS, this research aims to delve deeper into the pathway's role to identify novel targets beyond existing treatments.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kanai, Anthony John — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kanai, Anthony John
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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.