# University of Pittsburgh O'Brien Cooperative Research Center Program

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $1,199,999

## Abstract

Abstract (Overall):
This new application from the University of Pittsburgh is for an O'Brien Urology Cooperative Research Center
Grant to elucidate "Molecular mechanisms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and related lower urinary
tract symptoms (LUTS)". The Center investigators have expertise in an array of fields, including urology
endocrinology, molecular biology, pharmacology, physiology, neuroscience, genetics and pathology. Using
their various expertise, investigators developed multidisciplinary projects that contain basic mechanistic
components as well as the use of human clinical specimens to study BPH/LUTS. The following proposed
projects will address important factors involved in BPH/LUTS, with a focus on inflammation: Project 1: Afferent
and urothelial plasticity underlying bladder sensitization in prostatic inflammation (Naoki Yoshimura); Project 2:
Prostate luminal epithelial permeability and inflammation in BPH pathogenesis (Zhou Wang); Project 3: Impact
of Cox-2 on protective effects of estrogen receptor beta in prostate epithelial cells (Donald DeFranco).
The O'Brien Center has established an Administrative Core and a Tissue Resource and Morphology Core
(TRMC) to increase synergy and efficiency. The Administrative Core, which includes an Executive Committee,
an Internal Advisory Committee, and an External Advisory Committee, will provide strong administrative
support through project review, pilot project selection and monitoring, opportunity pool program, educational
enrichment, biostatistics analysis, clinical relevance review, and communication with general public. TRMC will
provide human tissue specimens, morphology support, and animal tissue processing and distribution.
Together, these Cores will help to both integrate the O'Brien Center into the University community by serving
as a resource and to attract new investigators to the field of BPH.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10002325
- **Project number:** 5U54DK112079-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Zhou Wang
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,199,999
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-22 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10002325

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10002325, University of Pittsburgh O'Brien Cooperative Research Center Program (5U54DK112079-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10002325. Licensed CC0.

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