Engineering Advances in Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (NLUTD): Current State and Future Directions - A...

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), stemming from neurodegenerative diseases or injuries such as cerebrovascular accidents, spinal cord injuries, and Alzheimer's disease, significantly impacts quality of life. Symptoms, including urinary frequency, urgency, incontinence, and retention, are managed with devices ranging from catheters to sacral neuromodulation. This Neurogenic Bladder Research Group (NBRG) report explores the intersection between clinical, basic science, and engineering research in personalized NLUTD treatment, identifies critical gaps for future investigation, and examines how interdisciplinary collaboration can drive engineering solutions to improve care.

In December 2024, NBRG convened its annual meeting, gathering experts from engineering, clinical practice, research, and patient advocacy to discuss challenges in NLUTD research and explore collaborative solutions.

Enhanced collaboration between clinicians and engineers offers promise for improving NLUTD care. Clinicians provide critical insight into patient needs but often lack time for sustained research, while engineers contribute technical innovation yet may lack clinical exposure. Integrating patient perspectives emerged as a key theme, ensuring that technologies are practical, acceptable, and aligned with end-user needs. Discussions emphasized expanding programs that support cross-disciplinary, multi-institutional research and identifying funding pathways tailored to interdisciplinary efforts. Strategies to enhance patient involvement and foster inclusive research that reflects patient diversity and socio-demographic factors influencing care were also discussed.

Institutional support, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the active engagement of patients are key to advancing clinical care and NLUTD treatments.