Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor and Urinary Pain

Studies to contribute to fundamental knowledge about the mechanisms of bladder pain and identify novel potential therapeutic targets for patients with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome. The long-term goal is to discover novel therapeutic targets for pelvic pain. Pelvic pain, bladder pain specifically, is also the cardinal symptom of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) where most patients show no underlying bladder infection, pathology, or injury. The local and central mechanisms that mediate pelvic pain are not fully understood.