Understanding bladder pain and its underlying causes
Official title: Signal integration by specialized mesenchyme in urothelial homeostasis and Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10583133 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into what causes Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) in women, focusing on how certain cells in the bladder might affect pain and urinary problems, with the hope of finding better treatments for this challenging condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $1,799,384 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK134989-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10583133 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include women diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome who experience chronic pelvic pain and urinary symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with bladder pain not related to IC/BPS or those with other unrelated urinary disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS), a condition that causes chronic pelvic pain and urinary issues, particularly in women. The study aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms of IC/BPS by examining the role of specialized bladder mesenchyme and its impact on bladder sensory innervation and urothelial health. Using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers will analyze how these factors contribute to the symptoms experienced by patients. The goal is to identify new therapeutic targets that could lead to more effective treatments for managing this debilitating condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for patients suffering from chronic bladder pain and urinary dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding bladder pain mechanisms, but this approach is innovative and aims to explore uncharted areas of IC/BPS pathology.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beachy, Philip a — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Beachy, Philip a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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).
-
Understanding and treating bladder pain syndrome
This study is looking at interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) to find out more about different types of patients based on their symptoms, so we can create better, personalized treatments that really help with their pain and urinary issues.
-
Understanding how spinal cord cells affect bladder pain and function
This study is looking at how different types of cells in the spinal cord help process bladder pain and function in people with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, with the hope of finding better treatments for those who suffer from this condition.
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.