Urothelial resurfacing with targeted electric pulses for bladder cancer
Official title: Urothelial Resurfacing with Irreversible Electroporation for Adjuvant Therapy of Bladder Cancer
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11225861 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new treatment approach uses a pulse-based ablation to remove cancerous tissue in the bladder and help intravesical therapies work better for bladder cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | June 11, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $706,479 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA279128-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11225861 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with early-stage, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer considered for standard TURBT and intravesical therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced disease or tumors not amenable to ablation may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project explores whole bladder resurfacing using irreversible electroporation (IRE) to debulk malignant urothelium and enhance the effects of standard intravesical therapies. It aims to safely apply a TURBT-like ablation to the entire bladder while preserving surrounding structures, then combine this with existing therapies to improve long-term cancer control. The study will develop and validate devices and protocols for whole bladder treatment and assess how this approach interacts with adjuvant drugs or immune therapies. If successful, patients with early-stage bladder cancer could face lower recurrence rates and better durability of remission.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have fewer recurrences and longer periods without bladder cancer after treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows proof-of-concept for IRE in localized cancers, with ongoing exploration of bladder-safe ablation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srimathveeravalli, Govindarajan — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Srimathveeravalli, Govindarajan
Related research
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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.