Understanding chronic pelvic pain and its causes
Official title: Preclinical phenotypic modeling of chronic urologic pelvic pain
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11116883 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how early life experiences and stress might change the way our bodies feel pain in the pelvic area, which could help find new ways to treat chronic pelvic pain conditions like interstitial cystitis and chronic prostatitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $326,700 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK124792-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11116883 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing chronic pelvic pain or related urologic conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute, non-chronic pelvic pain or those without any urologic conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind chronic urologic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), which includes conditions like interstitial cystitis and chronic prostatitis. By using animal models, the study aims to explore how early life events and stress can alter the way the nervous system processes pain signals from the pelvic region. The researchers will examine the effects of neonatal bladder inflammation and maternal separation, along with adult stressors, to understand their impact on pain sensitivity. This work could lead to new therapeutic targets for managing chronic pelvic pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for individuals suffering from chronic pelvic pain conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding pain mechanisms through similar animal model approaches, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deberry, Jennifer J — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Deberry, Jennifer J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Measuring pelvic floor muscle fitness in women with myofascial pelvic pain
A non-invasive imaging method uses near-infrared spectroscopy to map how well pelvic floor muscles work in adult women with myofascial pelvic pain.
-
Decoding Dysmenorrhea: Longitudinal Pain Phenotypes in Adolescents and Young Adults
A study on how menstrual pain develops over time in teenagers and young adults, exploring brain and behavior to understand why some have ongoing pain.
-
Exploring allergy-based triggers to prevent UCPPS flare-ups
A short, patient-friendly study will look at whether allergy-related antibodies can help predict and prevent flare-ups in people with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
-
Targeted pelvic warmth/cooling device to relieve pelvic pain
A low-cost, portable device uses controlled temperature changes to soothe pelvic pain from conditions like endometriosis and bladder issues, with the goal of reducing pain and inflammation without opioids.
-
Dual Cromolyn-Cetirizine oral capsule to help men with chronic pelvic pain
A new oral medicine combining cromolyn sodium and cetirizine is being developed to help adults with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain by targeting immune and nerve-related pathways.
-
Sacral nerve stimulation for chronic pelvic pain
A study to see if a minimally invasive nerve-stimulation therapy can help reduce chronic pelvic pain and improve quality of life in adult women.
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.