# Functional Considerations of the Urinary Microbiome in Overactive Bladder

> **NIH NIH K01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $135,928

## Abstract

Project Summary
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a symptom complex that is highly prevalent and negatively impacts quality of life.
Multiple mechanisms likely contribute to OAB symptoms, though current therapies only target a few potential
mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests that the urinary tract, which traditionally has been thought to be sterile
in the absence of a clinically identifiable infection, actually harbors a variety of microbes, known collectively as
the urinary microbiota, even when clinical cultures are negative. These microbial communities appear to be
altered women with urge urinary incontinence (wet OAB), however it is unknown if the urinary microbiota are
also altered in the broader patient population with OAB without incontinence (dry OAB) or how the urinary
microbiota contribute to OAB symptoms. This proposal aims to determine if the urinary microbiota are also
altered in women with dry OAB (Aim 1). Additionally, the proposed study also aims to lay the ground work for
understanding the functional contribution of the urinary microbiota to OAB. In other body sites, commensal
microbes contribute to host health and disease through interactions with the immune system and their
metabolic activity. The proposed studies will identify interactions with the host immune system by identifying
immunoglobulin-A associated microbes (Aim 2) and identify metabolic products of the urinary microbiota
through metabolomics studies (Aim 3). Together, information gained through completion of these aims will lead
to key insights that will guide biomarker and mechanistic studies aimed at improving the clinical management
of patients with OAB. Candidate: Dr. Karstens has a unique background including training in bioinformatics and
analytical chemistry. Her long-term goals are to apply this knowledge to understand the mechanisms
underlying complex urinary tract disorders to streamline therapeutic options for women suffering from these
conditions. Career development plan: The career development plan includes hands-on and didactic training to
gain expertise in women’s health and clinical research, as well as expand her knowledge in the molecular
techniques required to understand the function of the urinary microbiota. Environment: Her interdisciplinary
mentorship team brings together expertise in bioinformatics (Dr. McWeeney), urogynecology (Dr. Gregory),
microbiology (Dr. Wolfe), immunology (Dr. Rosenbaum), and host-microbe interactions (Dr.Braun). Training will
be completed at Oregon Health & Science University, a leading biomedical research and training institution in
the state of Oregon. OHSU has an excellent translational research and training infrastructure to facilitate the
successful transition to an independent career in translational bioinformatics research focused on
understanding bladder disorders.
!

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10132307
- **Project number:** 5K01DK116706-04
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lisa Anne Karstens
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $135,928
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10132307

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10132307, Functional Considerations of the Urinary Microbiome in Overactive Bladder (5K01DK116706-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10132307. Licensed CC0.

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