# Selective stimulation of lower urinary tract function in ovine

> **NIH NIH U41** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $70,556

## Abstract

ABSTRACT SUMMARY
Lower urinary tract symptoms such as urinary incontinence and overactive bladder are very common in non-
neurogenic patients, with rates of around 10% in men and 20% in women, affecting millions of people worldwide
and leading to significant healthcare costs and impact. Current neurostimulators for continuous modulation of
bladder function apply neurostimulation to a sacral nerve or pudendal nerve with a multi-contact probe that is
placed along or adjacent to the target nerve. This location does not allow for intentional selectivity of any part of
the nerve. There are no FDA-approved clinical neuromodulation approaches targeting the pudendal nerve, which
has been studied extensively in pre-clinical models for on-demand control over bladder excitation and relaxation.
We believe that selective stimulation of the pudendal nerve may allow for user-initiated or closed-loop control
over both continence and micturition in a more efficient manner than the current non-specific neuromodulation
approach. In this proposal we will obtain the first demonstration of repeated selective pudendal nerve stimulation
in an awake, large animal model. To perform these studies, it is critical that we can use human-relevant
stimulation modules that allow for individual control over electrode channels, which the COSMIIC power and
stimulation modules will provide.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10998796
- **Project number:** 3U41NS129436-02S3
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Cynthia Anne Chestek
- **Activity code:** U41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $70,556
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-05-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10998796

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10998796, Selective stimulation of lower urinary tract function in ovine (3U41NS129436-02S3). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10998796. Licensed CC0.

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