Role of TRP channels in bladder (dys)function

The aim is to make a leap forward in our understanding of the role of TRP channels in human chronic pain, and in the development of novel TRP channel-based strategies to diagnose, prevent and treat pain. To address these general hypotheses, we propose a truly translational approach, where clinical findings fuel basic research and vice versa. Within the TRP consortium, the expertise, genetic models and experimental tools are available to study TRP channel-dependent molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying pain development, and to test innovative TRP channel-related therapeutic approaches. These will be directly correlated with results of sensory testing in patient cohorts and assays on relevant human samples. This translational approach will allow us to address fundamental questions related to pain conditions (f.e. inflammatory bladder pain, pain related to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain) from a preclinical and clinical point of view.