Urology care plan for children born with spina bifida
Comp C Spina Bifida Urologic Protocol at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
Using a standardized urology care plan for newborns and children with spina bifida to help protect kidneys and improve bladder control.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11400829 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child was born with spina bifida, this protocol follows them from the newborn period up to age 10 with regular urology checks and tests. Vanderbilt clinicians collect detailed, long-term information on imaging, bladder studies (including videourodynamics), treatments, and outcomes. The team aims to use the same care steps across patients so they can spot clinical signs that predict kidney problems or difficult bladder function. Data are entered and quality-controlled for contribution to the UMPIRE effort and shared with the broader UMPIRE network to guide better care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborns and young children (up to about 10 years of age) with spina bifida who are followed through Vanderbilt's Spina Bifida Program are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Adults, people without spina bifida, or children who already have severe, irreversible kidney damage are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the protocol could help doctors choose care that better preserves kidney function and improves bladder continence for children with spina bifida.
How similar studies have performed: Related UMPIRE work from participating centers has produced published data and helped inform care, although longer-term outcomes are still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clayton, Douglass Brooks — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Clayton, Douglass Brooks
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 below.