Lessons learned from conducting a multi-center lower urinary tract physiology study: the LURN experience

Claire C. Yang; James A. Hokanson; Anna C. Kirby; Brenda W. Gillespie; H.Henry Lai; Karl J. Kreder; C.Emi Bretschneider; Ziya Kirkali; John O.L. Delancey

doi:10.1016/j.cont.2026.102320

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Lessons learned from conducting a multi-center lower urinary tract physiology study: the LURN experience

Journal article

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Lessons learned from conducting a multi-center lower urinary tract physiology study: the LURN experience

Claire C. Yang, James A. Hokanson, Anna C. Kirby, Brenda W. Gillespie, H.Henry Lai, Karl J. Kreder, C.Emi Bretschneider, Ziya Kirkali and John O.L. Delancey

Continence (Amsterdam), Vol.17, 102320

03/2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.cont.2026.102320

PMCID: PMC13007923

PMID: 41877858

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Abstract

Purpose To document the logistics and technical considerations of a multi-center protocol evaluating the sensory and motor function of both the bladder and the urethra, in women with urgency only, urinary urgency with incontinence, and controls. Methods The study network organization and infrastructure are described, with attention to the technical training methods and continuous data quality control. Results The LURN Organ study was approved in March 2020 and enrolled participants from March 2021 – November 2023, through the COVID pandemic. One hundred five participants were enrolled from all 6 research sites and completed the study testing protocol with no adverse events. All participants had evaluable data, and the majority of the participants had evaluable data from all 4 lower urinary tract (LUT) tests of the protocol. One test cohort did not reach the target enrollment adequate for statistical analysis. The lessons of a pilot study and technical practice; virtual training for a LUT physiology study; early, continuous technical and data quality control; diverse expertise within the research team, and under-enrollment in one cohort are discussed. Conclusions The conduct of a large, multi-site extended lower urinary tract physiology study is necessarily complex, resource-intensive, and fraught with possible pitfalls. The lessons learned by the LURN-Organ study group, particularly in the context of unprecedented circumstances, will hopefully help and inspire future investigators to continue this much-needed clinical research in LUT function.

bladder

lower urinary tract physiology

study protocol

urethra

urgency urinary incontinence

Details

Title: Subtitle: Lessons learned from conducting a multi-center lower urinary tract physiology study: the LURN experience
Creators: Claire C. Yang - University of Washington
James A. Hokanson - Medical College of Wisconsin
Anna C. Kirby - University of Washington
Brenda W. Gillespie - University of Michigan
H.Henry Lai - Washington University in St. Louis
Karl J. Kreder - University of Iowa
C.Emi Bretschneider - Northwestern University
Ziya Kirkali - National Institutes of Health
John O.L. Delancey - University of Michigan
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Continence (Amsterdam), Vol.17, 102320
DOI: 10.1016/j.cont.2026.102320
PMID: 41877858
PMCID: PMC13007923
ISSN: 2772-9737
eISSN: 2772-9737
Publisher: Elsevier B.V; AMSTERDAM
Grant note: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): DK097780, DK097772, DK097779, DK099932, DK100011, DK100017, DK099879
This study is supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) through cooperative agreements (grants DK097780, DK097772, DK097779, DK099932, DK100011, DK100017, DK099879) .
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 02/16/2026
Date published: 03/2026
Academic Unit: Obstetrics and Gynecology; Urology
Record Identifier: 9985139271202771

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