Understanding how the bladder protects against urinary tract infections
Official title: Urothelial IL-6 Signaling in the Host Defense Against Urinary Tract Infections
Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-10615681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a part of your bladder helps fight off urinary tract infections (UTIs) by focusing on a substance called IL-6, with the goal of finding new ways to prevent and treat UTIs, especially as antibiotics become less effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2019 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $161,995 |
| NIH project number | 5K08DK122119-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10615681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and young adults who experience recurrent urinary tract infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with UTIs caused by non-E. coli pathogens or those who do not experience recurrent infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the bladder lining in defending against urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly focusing on the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). The study aims to uncover how IL-6 activates specific pathways that help clear harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, from the urinary tract. By exploring these mechanisms, the research seeks to identify new therapeutic strategies that could complement or replace traditional antibiotic treatments, especially in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to innovative prevention and treatment options for UTIs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that enhance the body's natural defenses against urinary tract infections, reducing reliance on antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in exploring innate immune responses to bacterial infections, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ching, Christina B — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Ching, Christina B
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
New ways to stop urinary tract infections by blocking bacterial adhesion
A study to test new methods that prevent bacteria from sticking to urinary tract tissues and devices, potentially stopping infections before they start.
-
Hybridization capture sequencing to quickly identify canine urinary pathogens and resistance genes
A new sequencing approach directly from dog urine aims to rapidly identify bacteria causing urinary infections and their drug-resistance profiles to guide treatment.
-
Enterococcal Proteases and CAUTI: How the body’s environment activates bacteria to cause infections
A small grant is exploring how two enzymes from Enterococcus faecalis interact with the urine environment to drive catheter-associated urinary tract infections and why these infections are hard to treat.
-
Daily nitrofurantoin with or without bladder cauterization to prevent recurrent bladder infections in women
This study tests two approaches to prevent recurrent bladder infections in women: taking a low-dose antibiotic every day versus adding a bladder cauterization procedure plus the same daily antibiotic.
-
New bacterial pathway that helps cause bladder infections
Researchers are exploring how bacteria steal nutrients in the bladder and how the body fights them to help people with urinary tract infections.
-
New oral antifungal for tough Candida UTIs
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a new oral antifungal medicine called fungerps to treat urinary tract infections caused by azole-resistant Candida fungi.
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.