Seventy-Five Years of NIH NIDDK Funding Has Increased Knowledge and Greatly Impacted Clinical Care

Seventy-five years of research funding in benign Urology from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health has greatly advanced not only our knowledge of etiology and mechanisms of nononcologic urological conditions but has also advanced new technologies and treatments to improve clinical care. To illustrate the profound impact of NIDDK funding on research and clinical care, we undertook a survey of grants funded by NIDDK in the NIH Reporter website with a focus on translation of lower urinary tract health and disease research to the clinic. We highlight three examples of technologies whose development was funded by NIDDK: advanced artificial urinary sphincters, urodynamics, and neuromodulation. These examples demonstrate the difficulties in bringing innovations to clinical care, as well as successes. In addition, they illustrate how public investment through NIDDK funding can improve treatment outcomes, diagnostic capabilities, and provide multiple therapeutic options.