Understanding how the immune system drives benign prostate enlargement in men
Official title: Project-002
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11605919 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford-led project is exploring how immune signals, especially CXCL13, contribute to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to find more targeted treatments for men facing LUTS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $392,360 |
| NIH project number | 5U54DK130065-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11605919 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are men with BPH undergoing clinical evaluation, or tissue samples from BPH patients and controls suitable for gene and pathway analyses.
✕Less likely to help
Men without BPH or those not providing samples may not benefit from these specific analyses.
What this research studies
This project focuses on BPH, a common condition causing urinary symptoms in older men. Researchers will compare immune and tissue changes between prostates with BPH and normal prostates, aiming to reveal why some tissues grow excessively. They will look at gene expression and immune pathways, particularly CXCL13, to identify how inflammation and development signals drive disease. The work builds on identifying subtypes of BPH that may respond differently to therapies. Findings could point toward targeted strategies that address the underlying biology of BPH rather than just its symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to treatments that specifically target immune and cellular pathways in BPH, potentially reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work identified CXCL13 as a differentially expressed gene in BPH, suggesting that immune pathways are relevant and promising for further work.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brooks, James D. — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Brooks, James D.
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.