Project Grant R01DK144109

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded the Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education, operating as University of Nevada, Reno, $734,999 on September 1, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) to investigate the molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury-induced detrusor overactivity.

The award funds research characterizing how apoptosis of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha-positive interstitial cells in the bladder detrusor muscle occurs following spinal cord injury and drives the development of detrusor overactivity. The research will confirm that detrusor PDGFRA+ cells, but not smooth muscle cells, undergo apoptotic changes after spinal cord injury using multidisciplinary approaches. The work will examine cell-specific expression of neurotrophin receptors in detrusor muscle, with emphasis on TRKB.FL (full-length neurotrophin receptor B), which preliminary data show is uniquely expressed in detrusor PDGFRA+ cells and is downregulated in spinal cord injury detrusor. The study will investigate whether downregulation of TRKB.FL results from upregulation of TRKB.T1, a truncated form with dominant-negative effects that impairs TRKB signaling pathways and promotes apoptosis. The research will also examine P75NTR signaling pathways in this context.

Work is performed at the University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada. The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.