Bladder

There are a number of bladder pathologies that can affect the efficiency and frequency of bladder emptying. Additionally, bladder pain syndrome (BPS/IC) and overactive bladder (OAB) disorder affect between 12 to 17 percent of the global population. There are currently no effective treatments that diminish or eliminate their symptoms. In addition, urinary tract infections (UTI) affect 150 million people annually with current therapies becoming less effective as resistance to antibiotics increases.

The bladder is lined by a specialized epithelium that contains stem cells able to reform the many layers of the epithelium itself. reNEW researchers are developing adult bladder stem cell models to both identify the cause of bladder disorders and potentially to provide tissue therapies. Our researchers are also working on models of bacterial infections in the bladder using bladder-on-chip models. It is hoped that these can be used to screen for new drugs against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.