# LURN II: Enhanced Characterization of Patients with LUTS Using Biopsychosocial Approaches

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2024 · $99,999

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This application is in response to PA-20-272: Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and
Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional). Summary of parent-award
Specific Aims. The Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN) was
assembled in 2012 to increase the understanding of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Related to this
goal was the improvement of patient-centered assessment of LUTS. This work involves improving the
self-report measurement of LUTS using new, high-quality items to be used in questionnaire assessments.
These items were created with qualitative input from patients, community participants, internists,
urologists, urogynecologists, and clinical researchers. This set of items is referred to as the
Comprehensive Assessment of Self-Reported Urinary Symptoms (CASUS). The original aims of the
grant were Aim 1: To refine and expand a clinically-relevant cluster model across a cohort of patients
with LUTS. Relative to LURN I, participants will have a wider range of symptom severity and be
characterized using novel measures of bladder and urethral function; Aim 2: To identify protein
biomarker signatures contained within plasma of specific subgroups of men and women with LUTS;
Aim 3: To determine phenotypic characteristics of women with LUTS by measuring the functional
components of the lower urinary tract; Aim 4 To validate comprehensive outcome tools for men and
women with LUTS; and Aim 5: To determine influences of stress and mental health on LUTS. In this
supplement, we will focus on the following additional activities: Aim 5.1. Determine the relationship
between level of cognitive function and LUTS. LUTS increase with age and are associated with greater
impairment in performing activities of daily living, lower mood, and poorer overall health quality. More
recently, LUTS have been associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. The
LURN II data present a unique opportunity to further elucidate the relationship between cognition and
LUTS. Within Aim 5.1, our hypothesis is: Cognitive function, measured by BrainTest, which is based on
the electronic version of the self-administered gerocognitive examination (eSAGE), will be related to
LUTS; Aim 5.2. Determine baseline predictors of LUTS trajectories in a sample of men and women
with urinary urgency. We will conduct separate analyses in men and women who have urinary urgency
and other LUTS. We propose to create models of the trajectory of LUTS for each participant, and then
relating these trajectories to patient health variables. We will explore baselines symptoms, combined with
other health variables that have been explored in LURN I such as BMI, depression, anxiety, and sleep
disturbance. We also plan to explore psychosocial variables that have not been explored with respect to
urgency: intolerance of uncertainty, catastrophizing, and adverse childhood experiences.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11143545
- **Project number:** 3U01DK097779-12S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** James William Griffith
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $99,999
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11143545

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11143545, LURN II: Enhanced Characterization of Patients with LUTS Using Biopsychosocial Approaches (3U01DK097779-12S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11143545. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*