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Mechanisms of Improving Fecal Continence Muscles Motor Function in Health and Disease

Award Number: R01DK139030
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/01/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2030

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Mechanisms of Improving Fecal Continence Muscles Motor Function in Health and Disease - Abstract The overall aim of this proposal is an in-depth investigation of mechanisms for enhancing the motor function of fecal continence muscles to improve fecal incontinence in patients. Fecal incontinence (FI), characterized by involuntary loss of solid and/or liquid stools, is a common problem in the United States and worldwide affecting all adult age groups and especially women and elderly. Although, it is known that muscle weakness is one of the important components of FI pathophysiology and its improvement may remedy or reduce the severity of incontinence, to-date basic knowledge to enhance the contractility of various continence muscles such as their fatigability; a pre-requisite for strength training rehabilitation, tools and methods for inducing and measuring their fatigue leading to increased contractility and improved function and quality of life remain unknown. Supported by preliminary data, we have developed tools and techniques for inducing and reliably measuring fatigue in continence muscles and determining their fatigue characteristics necessary for devising methods for increasing their contractility and reducing incontinence. Our specific aims are: Specific Aim 1: Characterization of the fatigability of various continence muscles across adult age spectrum and sex. SA1A: We will determine and characterize the fatigue characteristics of the striated: a. anal canal continence muscle complex (comprised of external anal sphincter muscle group and puborectalis muscle), and b. Puborectalis muscle alone induced by various loads, intervals, and repetitions. SA1B: We will compare and characterize the differences in fatigue characteristics of the continence muscles induced by isotonic and isometric contractions with and without load. Specific Aim 2: Determination of the effect of daily fatigue on continence muscles' motor function and incontinence severity and its related patient quality of life. SA2A: We will determine the effect of repetitive fatigue by isometric and isotonic contractions on physiologic response of the continence muscles, severity of incontinence and related quality of life in FI patients. SA2B: We will determine the effect of continued exercise for three and six months in a subset of patients who do not develop significant response. We have assembled a multi-disciplinary team comprised of gastroenterologists, OB/Gynecologists, exercise Physiologists, surgeons, bio-feedback specialists and occupational therapists to design and execute the mandate of this proposal.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $475,963 )
2026	2026	THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN, INC.	8701 WATERTOWN PLANK RD	MILWAUKEE	WI	53226	MILWAUKEE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	2	3/6/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$475,963
														Subtotal = $475,963

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $460,963 )
2025	2025	THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN, INC.	8701 WATERTOWN PLANK RD	MILWAUKEE	WI	53226	MILWAUKEE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	1	2/25/2025	NEW	$401,039
2025	2025	THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN, INC.	8701 WATERTOWN PLANK RD	MILWAUKEE	WI	53226	MILWAUKEE	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	001	1	5/13/2025	NEW	$59,924
														Subtotal = $460,963

Grand Total All Awards = $936,926

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Mechanisms of Improving Fecal Continence Muscles Motor Function in Health and Disease

Award Number: R01DK139030

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/01/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2030

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