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-10886954 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a part of your bladder helps fight off urinary tract infections (UTIs) and how a specific protein called IL-6 can help clear out harmful bacteria, with the hope 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) | $79,909 |
| NIH project number | 3K08DK122119-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10886954 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and young adults who experience recurrent urinary tract infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with UTIs caused by non-uropathogenic bacteria or those who do not respond to IL-6 mediated pathways 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 like E. coli from the urinary tract. By exploring the mechanisms of innate immunity within the urothelium, the research seeks to identify new therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating UTIs, especially in the context of rising antibiotic resistance. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to alternative treatments beyond traditional antibiotics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options for urinary tract infections that do not rely on antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in utilizing innate immune responses for treating infections, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
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
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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.
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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.
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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.