, an associate professor in the Department of Urology at UCLA Health, has received more than $3 million in research funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health to explore treatment options for chronic bladder and pelvic pain conditions.
One grant, totaling $1.6 million, will focus on Dr. Ackerman’s studies of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS), a chronic disorder characterized by bladder pain and urinary dysfunction. Her research team will investigate the role of specific bacteria and fungi in the development and progression of this condition. The study will involve developing an animal model to analyze how microbes may contribute to bladder symptoms and to identify new therapeutic strategies to prevent and address pelvic pain.
A second grant, totaling $1.52 million, will fund research into Myofascial Pelvic Pain (MPP), a chronic condition that affects the pelvic floor muscles, connective tissue, and fascia. This project is supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
The MPP study will incorporate novel technology to investigate how this musculoskeletal disorder leads to chronic pelvic pain. Her research will evaluate the effectiveness of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess pelvic floor muscle function and objectively track improvements in muscle function after various treatments.
In addition to these new projects, Dr. Ackerman’s research explores the role of host-microbe interactions in the development of benign lower urinary tract disorders. At UCLA, she specializes in treating both men and women with voiding dysfunction and pelvic floor disorders.
