# Developmental Center for Human Urinary Bladder Myogenic Mechanisms by Ion Channels in Health and Disease

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR · 2020 · $297,732

## Abstract

ABSTRACT DC-HUB DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER
The intention of this P20 planning grant application is to establish the “Developmental Center for Human Urinary
Bladder Myogenic Mechanisms by Ion Channels in Health and Disease” (DC-HUB), focused on investigating the
role of ion channels in benign urology. Ion channels play important roles in urinary bladder function, but much
remains to be discovered. The objective of this DC-HUB planning grant is to organize a multidisciplinary
collaborative program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). The goal of this
multidisciplinary collaborative program is to examine the roles of ion channels and their regulatory mechanisms
in the human urinary bladder under normal and benign pathological conditions. The program will investigate the
molecular, cellular, tissue, and whole organism (in vivo) mechanisms by which ion channels regulate urinary
bladder function and dysfunction, leading to identification of novel pharmacological targets for benign urological
indications. Our collaborative DC-HUB will consist of investigators with demonstrated expertise in basic and
clinical urology, physiology, pharmacology, electrophysiology, drug discovery, biochemistry, and signal
transduction. Employing a rigorous interdisciplinary approach, using state-of-the-art techniques, we will
determine the roles of ion channels and their regulatory mechanisms in urinary bladder function from molecules
and isolated cells to intact tissues and whole organisms. Our long-term goal is to establish an effective
multidisciplinary program to develop novel strategies for safe and effective therapeutic control of overactive
bladder (OAB). This DC-HUB proposal is a result of extensive collaboration among basic science and clinical
faculty at UTHSC from Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine. Our partnership for excellence in research,
education, and community outreach is grounded on complementary strengths, mutual respect, and a genuine
passion to create a new Research Center focused on the role of ion channels in benign urology. By the end of
this P20 planning grant period, we will develop a coherent theme and strategy for our interdisciplinary
collaborative research program and establish interactive and collaborative research projects, each with working
hypotheses and aims fully developed at the submission of an NIH U54-level or P01-level grant application. Our
multidisciplinary research team involving UTHSC faculty and outside collaborators perfectly matches the
description criteria for this current NIH P20 RFA-DK-18-028 solicitation. Therefore, there is a high likelihood for
this integrative effort to grow into an NIH U54-level, multi-PI R01, or P01-level grant.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10019537
- **Project number:** 5P20DK123971-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Wenkuan Xin
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $297,732
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-18 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10019537

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10019537, Developmental Center for Human Urinary Bladder Myogenic Mechanisms by Ion Channels in Health and Disease (5P20DK123971-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10019537. Licensed CC0.

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