Clinical Trials for Interstitial Cystitis

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.

What are clinical trials, and are they right for you?

Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if clinical trials are right for you.

What clinical trials are open?

Clinical trials that are currently open and are recruiting can be viewed at www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials.

What is the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network?

To better understand the causes of two chronic urinary pain disorders—interstitial cystitis (IC)-also called bladder pain syndrome, and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS)—the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network.

The MAPP Research Network moves beyond typical bladder- and prostate-specific research and includes experts across a wide range of disciplines. Using a whole-body approach, MAPP Network scientists are studying the underlying source of symptoms, differing symptom profiles and patterns for patients, and possible connections between IC, CP/CPP, and other chronic conditions that are sometimes seen in IC and CP/CPPS patients, such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Read more about the research being done by the MAPP Research Network.

For more information, visit the MAPP Research Network home page.

Last Reviewed July 2017
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This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.