Sunday, February 15, 2026 2/15/2026

Effects of activity dependent plasticity on recovery of bladder and sexual function after human spinal cord injury

Award Number: R01HD080205
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/23/2014
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Effects of activity dependent plasticity on recovery of bladder and sexual function after human spinal cord injury - Abstract Bladder and bowel complications have consistently been rated as of the upmost importance by the spinal cord injury (SCI) population. Importantly, both bladder and bowel distention have been identified as primary triggers of autonomic dysreflexia (AD) in individuals with cervical and upper thoracic level lesions (majority of SCI population), a systolic blood pressure rising often more than 20 mmHg and remaining at these values with intolerable symptoms (pounding headache and/or chills, for example). We have recently documented as part of our current R01 this massive unmodulated sympathetic reflex which causes widespread vasoconstriction (presenting as severe hypertension) as a limitation for bladder capacity in numerous research participants. Anecdotally, many who use clean intermittent catheterization for bladder management report using AD symptoms daily as a signal of bladder fullness and time for emptying, an unsafe practice that needs addressing. Additionally, we and others have documented in questionnaires regular occurrences of AD symptoms during bowel programs and in ongoing lab-based studies there have been numerous instances of AD upon insertion of a rectal probe either for bladder cystometry (for recording abdominal pressure) or during anorectal manometry. The goals of the current multi-disciplinary study incorporating critical cross viscero- visceral intersystem interactions are 1) to investigate in a controlled laboratory setting and then with mobile at-home monitoring the extent, severity and frequency of occurrence of AD with respect to daily bladder and bowel function, in conjunction with identifying potential underlying mechanisms by examining urinary biomarkers for several specific vasoactive hormones, and 2) to regulate cardiovascular (CV) function therapeutically as part of bladder and bowel management using spinal cord epidural stimulation, which our CV team have shown can normalize blood pressure.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	10	7/17/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $379,591 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	10	7/17/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$379,591
														Subtotal = $379,591

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $383,425 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	9	7/13/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$383,425
														Subtotal = $383,425

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $383,411 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	003	8	7/11/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$383,425
2022	2018	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	5	6/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$14
2022	2018	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	11/2/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2022	2017	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	4	6/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $383,411

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $382,302 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	7	7/19/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$382,302
														Subtotal = $382,302

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $381,600 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	6	8/4/2020	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$381,600
2020	2018	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	5	7/28/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2020	2018	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	6/22/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $381,600

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $311,250 )
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	6/25/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$311,250
														Subtotal = $311,250

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $311,250 )
2017	2017	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE	2301 S 3RD ST	LOUISVILLE	KY	40208	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	4	7/28/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$311,250
														Subtotal = $311,250

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $308,137 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE RESEARCH FOUNDATION	SERVICE COMPLEX	LOUISVILLE	KY	40292	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	6/27/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$308,137
														Subtotal = $308,137

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $303,468 )
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE RESEARCH FOUNDATION	SERVICE COMPLEX	LOUISVILLE	KY	40292	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	2	6/17/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$303,468
														Subtotal = $303,468

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $311,250 )
2014	2014	UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE RESEARCH FOUNDATION	SERVICE COMPLEX	LOUISVILLE	KY	40292	JEFFERSON	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	9/22/2014	NEW	$311,250
														Subtotal = $311,250

Grand Total All Awards = $3,455,684

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Effects of activity dependent plasticity on recovery of bladder and sexual function after human spinal cord injury

Award Number: R01HD080205

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/23/2014

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer