Neurourology: Bridging Basic and Clinical Science to Understand Urologic Disease

Event Details

Background

Neural mechanisms underlie a range of benign urologic diseases and conditions. Altered innervation of the bladder, urethra, ureters, prostate, erectile tissue, and/or other pelvic structures has a range of effects—including pain, dysfunction, and/or cross-sensitization—contributing to a spectrum of urologic diseases and conditions. The NIDDK-sponsored workshop held in May 2019, Neuroscience in Urology Think Tank, engaged participants with complementary expertise in urology, neurology, neuroscience, developmental neurobiology, and neuroimmunology.

This follow-on workshop will serve as an opportunity to evaluate the existing body of basic and translational research and more recent advances in the field.

Meeting Objectives

The overall goal of this workshop is to identify persistent gaps in knowledge related to the interaction between the nervous system and the genitourinary system; how that interaction contributes to benign urologic diseases and disorders; and how multidisciplinary basic, translational, and clinical research can fill these gaps and ultimately enhance prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of benign urologic conditions.

Focus areas will include—

• Sensory and autonomic innervation, neuroimmune mechanisms, interoception, and cross-organ sensitization in genitourinary function and pathophysiology
• Clinical and translational tools and technologies informing research and management strategies, including optogenetics, neuroimaging, and neuromodulation therapies
• Strategies to connect neurobiology to social, behavioral, or psychosocial factors
• Targeting neurobiological etiologies of urologic disease with novel therapies

Registration Deadline

August 5, 2022

Agenda

August 22, 2022

8:30 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Welcome
Robert Star, M.D., NIDDK

Introduction and Meeting Objectives
Julie Barthold, M.D., NIDDK
Victoria Spruance, Ph.D., NIDDK

Session I: Where Are We Now?

8:40 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Genitourinary Innervation: New Concepts and Opportunities for Translation
Janet Keast, Ph.D., The University of Melbourne

9:20 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.

Dysautonomia as a Unifying Neurogenic Feature of Multi-Organ Pathology After Spinal Cord Injury
Phillip Popovich, Ph.D., The Ohio State University

9:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.

Cross-Organ Sensitization: Clinical Relevance of the Gastrointestinal Urology Connection
Stuart Brierley, Ph.D., Flinders University

9:40 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

What Are the Clinical Gaps and Challenges in Neurourology?
Ugur Yilmaz Anatolian, M.D., Eastern Virginia Medical School

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Panel Discussion: What Are Gaps and New Opportunities in Clinical and Translational Neurourology?
Moderator: Claire Yang, M.D., University of Washington

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Lightning Talks and Discussion

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

Break

Session II: Neural Concepts and Their Relevance to Research Models and Disease

11:10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Sensory Circuits
Nathan Tykocki, Ph.D., Michigan State University

11:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Autonomic Neuropathy in Genitourinary Disease
Rodica Pop-Busui, M.D., Ph.D., University of Michigan

11:50 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Neural Control of Vesicourethral Function
James Hokanson, Ph.D., Medical College of Wisconsin

12:10 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Neuroimmune Concepts in Pelvic Pain
Praveen Thumbikat, DVM, Ph.D., Northwestern University

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Panel Discussion: How Can We Enhance the Relevance of Research Models to Disease?
Moderator: Margaret Vizzard, Ph.D., University of Vermont

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.

Lunch - Trainees and Program Staff

Session III: Clinical and Translational Tools and Technologies

1:50 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.

Urodynamics: Novel Approaches and Concepts
Adam Klausner, M.D., Virginia Commonwealth University

2:10 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Predicting Functional Effects of Lower Urinary Tract Neuromodulation with Computational Models
Zachary Danziger, Ph.D., Florida International University

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Using Optogenetics to Understand and Treat Urologic Disease
Benedict Kolber, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Dallas

2:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Improve Phenotyping of Urologic Diseases and Conditions
Rose Khavari, M.D., Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion: How Can We Leverage State-of-the-Art Technologies to Inform Translation of Neurourology Concepts?
Moderator: Gene Civillico, Ph.D., Northeastern University

3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Break

3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Breakouts I — Roadblocks

• Incorporating Neural Concepts into Models of Disease
• Clinical and Translational Tools and Technologies
• Connecting Neurobiology to Social, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Factors
• Therapeutic Targets and Strategies

4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Report Back — Discussion

5:30 p.m.

Adjournment

August 23, 2022

Session IV: Intersection between Neurobiology and Social, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Factors

9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.

Interoception: Overview and Relevance to Urinary Function
Lisa Stowers, Ph.D., Scripps Research Institute

9:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.

Biopsychosocial Impacts on Urinary Function and Behaviors
Stuart Reynolds, M.D., M.P.H., Vanderbilt University Medical Center

9:40 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Stress Effects on Urologic Function
Julie Carlsten, Christianson Ph.D., University of Kansas Medical Center

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Panel Discussion: How Can Neuroscientists and Clinical Scientists Collaborate to Identify the Most Relevant Variables and Targets?
Moderator: Alayne Markland, D.O., M.S., The University of Alabama at Birmingham

10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Lightning Talks and Discussion

10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Break

Session V: Targeting Neurobiological Etiologies of Disease with Novel Therapies

11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

Central Neuromodulation: Pain
Jason Kutch, Ph.D., University of Southern California

11:20 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.

Central Neuromodulation: Function
Charles Hubscher, Ph.D., University of Louisville

11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Peripheral Neuromodulation of Pelvic and Urological Function: Devices and Targets
Mario Romero-Ortega, Ph.D., University of Houston

12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.

Targeting Ion Channels
Kara Marshall, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine

12:20 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.

Panel Discussion: What Are the Most Promising Interventions to Prioritize?
Moderator: Margot Damaser, Ph.D., Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute

12:50 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Breakouts II — Strategies

• Incorporating Neural Concepts into Models of Disease
• Clinical and Translational Tools and Technologies
• Connecting Neurobiology to Social, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Factors
• Therapeutic Targets and Strategies

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Report Back — Discussion

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Pulling It All Together and Prioritizing Research Needs

4:30 p.m.

Adjournment

Abstracts

Attendees are invited to submit abstracts for virtual poster presentations. On both days of the meeting lightning talks summarizing posters will be followed by discussion. Space may be limited, and the organizing committee may implement a selection process so that a range of meritorious research is presented. Further information regarding these talks will be provided to presenters several weeks before the meeting.

Submission Deadline

July 21, 2022

Submitting Abstracts

All abstracts must be submitted via email to Rachel Pisarski, with “Abstract-NIDDK Neurourology Workshop” in the subject line. The abstract submission should be a 1-page Microsoft Word document that does not exceed 250 words (not including the abstract’s title and name and affiliation of all authors).

Presenters are welcome to present abstracts previously-presented in other venues.

Download the Abstract Template (DOCX, 24.67 KB) .

Abstract Organization

Organize the body of the abstract as follows:

• Statement of the study’s purpose
• Statement of the methods used
• Summary of the results presented in sufficient detail to support the conclusion
• Statement of the conclusions reached

Formatting Requirements

Please follow the instructions below to format an abstract. (Note: Submissions will not be edited for spelling or grammar and will be accepted “as is.”)

• The abstract should be a Microsoft Word document with 1-inch margins, typed single space, using Times New Roman font; a 12-point font should be used for everything except the title.
• The abstract’s title should be Typed in Title Case using Bold 16-Point font, and it should clearly represent the nature of the investigation. Do not use subheadings (e.g., Methods, Results) in the body of the abstract.
• Skip one line after the title, and list the author’s first and last names, degree, affiliation, city, state, and country. Separate multiple authors with a semicolon, and underline the primary author’s name (one primary author per abstract).
• Use one blank line between the title and the authors, the authors and the body of the abstract, and between paragraphs.
• Please ensure that your abstract is the correct length (no longer than 250 words).
• Use standard abbreviations (e.g., RBC) and standard symbols for units of measure (e.g., kg, g, mg, mL, L, and %). Place abbreviations and acronyms in parentheses after the full word the first time that the term appears. Use numerals to indicate numbers, except as the first word of a sentence.
• Simple tables or graphs may be included; however, the abstract may not be longer than one page, including any tables or graphs