Advancing the Measurement and Classification of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

Summary

This project aims to advance the measurement and classification of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction (LUTS) by refining existing patient clustering models, identifying protein biomarkers, validating self-reported outcome tools, and exploring alternative analytic approaches.

What they want

The LURN II project will build on previous research to categorize patients with LUTS. Specific aims include: testing and refining the original LURN clustering model in a new cohort of 1380 participants followed for 3 years, including a wider range of symptom severity and physical measures; identifying a signature of proteins within plasma to identify specific subgroups of men and women with LUTS; determining phenotypic characteristics of women with LUTS by measuring functional components of the lower urinary tract; validating a self-reported outcome tool for evaluating treatments, based on a comprehensive tool developed in LURN I; and exploring promising alternative analytic approaches to existing and future LURN data while characterizing the broader experiences of patients with LUTS.

Deliverables

Refined LURN clustering model
Signature of proteins in plasma for identifying LUTS subgroups
Phenotypic characteristics of women with LUTS
Validated self-reported outcome tool for LUTS treatments
Exploration of alternative analytic approaches for LURN data
Characterization of broader experiences of patients with LUTS

Technical requirements

Probability-based consensus clustering approach
Systematic development of item banks
Plasma protein analysis
Measurement of functional components of the lower urinary tract
Alternative analytic approaches for LURN data

Key personnel

Urologists
Urogynecologists
Bladder physiologists
Data scientists
Epidemiologists
Outcomes researchers