The U-M Medical School Department of Urology Division of Neurourology & Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery actively participates in numerous public- and privately-funded research efforts that seek to develop new, and more effective, treatments for patients and their families. These efforts focus on innovative approaches to improve patient care and outcomes.
At the same time, these research activities help ensure that the Department of Urology remains at the forefront of innovation and understanding related to urologic conditions. By staying engaged in cutting-edge studies, the department continues to lead in advancing medical knowledge and practice.
- Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network. The U-M Department of Urology is one of six “Discovery Sites” in this multi-institutional consortium that is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. As a part of this project, our team is conducting in-depth phenotyping studies of patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in order to identify clinically important characteristics that predict longitudinal symptom patterns and response to specific treatments. Techniques include neuroimaging, quantitative sensory testing, biomarker analysis, and psychosocial characterization.
- Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN). This is another multi-site research network funded by the NIDDK. We are one of six research institutions that have been awarded funding by LURN to develop comprehensive patient-reported outcome measures, and to conduct phenotyping studies of patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction, in order to develop a better mechanistic understanding of urinary symptoms.
Our division participates in numerous industry-sponsored studies related to incontinence and voiding dysfunction. Current projects include participating in the Medtronic registry for sacral neuromodulation, and a study of urethral injection outcomes.
We have many ongoing projects that utilize data generated from our busy clinical practices within the Department of Urology. Just a few examples include developing a neurogenic bladder database, conducting a study of outcomes following sacral neuromodulation and botulinum toxin therapies, and performing complex analyses of urodynamic findings.
