ICN Clinical Trials & Research Center

Introduction

Clinical trials are used to determine whether investigational new drugs or investigational treatments are both safe and effective. IC patients often choose to participate in studies because it may provide access to the latest investigational therapies and medications at no cost. Studies also allow the patient to interact with some of the best IC researchers in the country.

If you are considering participating in a trial, we suggest that you read the following resources:

Clinical Trial & Research News

Genetic Study of Interstitial Cystitis

Children Hospital Boston(July 29, 2010) We are currently looking for individuals who suffer from a condition called Interstitial Cystitis (also called Painful Bladder Syndrome or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome) to be a part of a research study. The study is being conducted by the Harvard Urological Diseases Research Center at Children's Hospital Boston.

The purpose of the study is to find genes that may influence the development of Interstitial Cystitis which hopefully help us develop better ways to detect and treat this condition.

Participants must:

  • Have interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome, or chronic pelvic pain
  • Be willing to answer 2 brief study questionnaires
  • Be willing to provide a saliva and urine sample
  • Live in the USA or Canada

There is no cost to participate in this study and there is no need to travel. If you would like more information about the study, please contact:

Elicia Estrella Genetic Counselor

Phone: 617-919-4552

E-mail: elicia.estrella@childrens.harvard.edu

Other Recent Studies of Interest

Current Clinical Trials Listings

There are a few services on the web that provide listings of current trials. Clinicaltrials.gov, our favorite, is a service sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Centerwatch.com is an industry sponsored listing service.

Current NIDDK IC/PBS Research Centers

IC research is done at a wide variety of urology clinics. Many local and regional clinics participate in pharmaceutical company sponsored studies and/or may conduct their own research. Universities are the foundation for IC research not only for their access to excellent researchers but also large populations of patients who might participate. IC research centers which are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK) are often considered the best in the country.

Currently, there are two research networks, the ICCRN (IC research centers) and the CPCRN (prostatitis research centers) that are united under a single umbrella organization, the UPPCRN (Urologic Pelvic Pain Collaborative Research Network) and, in 2008, the MAPP research network was introduced. The clinics and investigators below are current participates.

CALIFORNIA

Stanford University Medical Center (ICCRN) - Christopher Payne, M.D. & Rodney Anderson, M.D. Contact: Debra Clay, R.N. - Research Coordinator at (650) 724-1753

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (CPCRN) - Mark S. Litwin, M.D., Scott Zeitlin, M.D., Nand S. Datta, M.D. Contact: Gwendolyn Byrd, MA, at (310) 267-2526

King-Drew Medical Center, Urology/Dept. of Surgery (CPCRN) - Dr. Nand Datta Contact: Kawajalen Mervin at 310-668-4545

UCLA (MAPP) - Emeran Mayer MD, Larissa Rodriguez MD. Project Director: Bruce Naliboff, PhD

COLORADO

Univ. of Colorado - Denver (MAPP) - Technology and Tissue Center - M. Scott Lucia MD

ILLINOIS

Loyola University Medical Center (ICCRN) - Marypat Fitzgerald, M.D. & Linda Brubaker, M.D. Contact: Judith Senka, R.N. - Research Coordinator at (708) 216-8495

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (CPCRN) - Anthony J. Schaefer, M.D., Robert B. Nadler, M.D., J. Quentin Clemens, M.D. Contact: Darlene Marko RN, BSN, CCRC(312) 695-3898

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (MAPP) - David Klumpp, PhD, Anthony J. Schaefer, M.D.  Project Director: Elizabeth Calhoun, PhD

IOWA

University of Iowa Hospitals (ICCRN) - Karl Kreder, M.D. , Michael O’Donnell, M.D. Contact: Mary Eno, R.N. - Research Coordinator at (319) 384-9265 Kelley O’Berry - Recruitment Coordinator at (319) 384-5064

University of Iowa Hospitals (MAPP) - Karl Kreder M.D., Project Directors: Catherine Bradley MD, Yi Luo PhD, Susan Lutgendorf PhD, Michael O'Donnell MD, Satish Rao PhD.

MARYLAND

University of Maryland (ICCRN) - Toby Chai, M.D., Susan Keay, M.D. Contact: Judith Murray, CCRC - Research Coordinator (410) 328-5784

MICHIGAN - Detroit

Henry Ford Hospital (ICCRN) - David Burks, M.D. Contact: Jill Sullivan, R.N., B.S.N. - Research Coordinator at (313) 916-3140 Michelle Peabody, R.N. - Research Coordinator at (313) 916-8265

William Beaumont Hospital (ICCRN) - Kenneth Peters, M.D. Contact: Eleanor Anton, R.N. - Research Coordinator at (248) 551-0885

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (MAPP) - Daniel Clauw  MD, J. Quentin Clemens MD

MISSISSIPPI

The University of Mississippi Medical Center (CPCRN) - Paige White, M.D. Contact: (610) 984-5195

MISSOURI

Washington Univ - St. Louis (MAPP) - Gerald Andriole MD, Chief Division of Urology. Project Directors: Thomas Hooton MD, Graham Colditz MD, Robert Gereau PhD, Timothy Ness MD and Barry Kong PhD.

NEW YORK

University of Rochester Medical Center (ICCRN) - Robert Mayer, M.D. & Edward M. Messing, M.D. Contact: Elizabeth Smith, B.S. - Research Coordinator at (585) 275-0989 Kay Rust, R.N., M.S.N., F.N.P - Research Coordinator at (585) 275-0133

OHIO

Cleveland Clinic (CPCRN) - Daniel Shoskes, M.D., Contact: Donel Murphy (216) 445-7505

PENNSYLVANIA

Univ. of Pennsylvania (ICCRN)- Philip Hanno, M.D. Diane Newman, R.N.C., M.S.N., CRNP Contact: Lilliam Ribeiro, B.S. - Research Coordinator at (215) 615-3780

Univ. Of Pennsylvania (MAPP) - Datacoordinating Center 0 J. Richard Landis MD

Temple University School of Medicine (CPCRN) - Michel A. Pontari, M.D., Contact: Melody Santiago, RN, (215) 707-3783

WASHINGTON

Univ. of Washington (ICCRN) - Richard E. Berger, M.D., Jane Miller, M.D. & Elizabeth A. Miller, M.D. Contact: Sharon Downing, R.N. - Research Coordinator at (206) 598-0850

Univ. of Washington (CPCRN) - John N. Krieger, M.D., P.I., Robert Sweet, M.D., Co-PI & Susan O. Ross, R.N. Contact: Leslie Butler 206-616-7416

Univ. of Washington (MAPP) - Dedra Buchwald MD. Project Directors: Niloofar Afari PhD, John Krieger MD, Alvin Liu PhD

CANADA

Queen's University Kingston, Ontario, Canada (ICCRN) - J. Curtis Nickel, M.D., Contact: Joe Downey, M.Sc., CCRP, (613) 533-2894

MALAYSIA

University of Sciences Malaysia (CPCRN) - Liong Men Long, M.D., Contact: Shaun Lee Wen Huey, Research Coordinator, nuahsell@yahoo.com, Mobile: 012-2030508

ICN Founder Jill OsborneA note from ICN Founder Jill Osborne - The best gift that an IC patient can give is the opportunity to learn more about this unique and misunderstood condition by participating in research studies and clinical trials. Whether it's quick phone survey, the donation of blood or urine samples or trying new therapies, the IC research movement depends upon patients like you who can see value in participating. It's a whole new mind set. Instead of saying "Why me?", the IC patient who participates is saying "Why not me? I can be a part of the cure." Wouldn't that be something?