Ongoing Projects

DNA Damage in the Bladder after Spinal Cord Injury

In collaboration with Prof. Rosalyn Adam at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, we investigate how spinal cord injury (SCI) induces DNA damage responses in the bladder and contributes to neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
Using mouse models, multi-omics approaches, and functional analyses, we study how injury-driven molecular changes reshape bladder tissue and identify pathways that may be targeted therapeutically. Our findings show that SCI triggers a robust early inflammatory response in the bladder, which occurs independently of PARP1 deletion or inosine treatment, suggesting that strong upstream mechanisms drive the acute inflammatory phase.
Importantly, our work highlights that the timing of secondary injury events is critical. We observed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and DNA damage decrease after approximately one week, indicating a transient early injury phase. These findings suggest that PARP1 inhibition may not be beneficial immediately after SCI, emphasizing the importance of precise therapeutic timing when targeting DNA damage pathways in neurogenic bladder. 
 

DNA Damage in the Bladder in Multiple Sclerosis Models

In collaboration with Prof. Britta Engelhardt at the Theodor Kocher Institute (TKI), University of Bern, we investigate bladder pathology in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a widely used model of multiple sclerosis. Our goal is to understand how neuroinflammation and chronic neurological disease affect bladder tissue integrity and function.
Using proteomic profiling of EAE bladders, we identified significant upregulation of pro-inflammatory pathways (including IL-8 signaling) and extracellular matrix organization pathways, indicating active inflammatory remodeling of bladder tissue. Cell-type–specific analyses revealed downregulation of urothelial markers and upregulation of fibroblast-associated markers, suggesting epithelial dysfunction and stromal activation.
Importantly, our studies show that DNA damage is predominantly localized within the urothelium, highlighting a potential mechanism linking neuroinflammation to bladder epithelial injury and neurourological dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

Mapping Vascular and Lymphatic Reorganization in the Bladder after Neurogenic Injury

In collaboration with Prof. Dr. med. Ruslan Hlushchuk at the Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, we are mapping vascular and lymphatic reorganization in the bladder following neurogenic insults. In our acute studies, we observed pronounced edema in the lamina propria at early time points after injury, suggesting that neurogenic damage rapidly affects bladder tissue architecture and fluid homeostasis.

Our current goal is to determine what causes this early edema, how blood and lymphatic vessels are remodeled, and how these changes contribute to bladder dysfunction and long-term tissue remodeling. Using advanced 3D vascular imaging and reconstruction approaches in mouse and human bladder samples, we aim to define the structural basis of these early pathological changes and better understand their role in neurourological disease.

Real-Time Ultrasound Imaging of Microrobots

In collaboration with Prof Daniel Ahmed’s lab and Dr. Cornel Dillinger at ARTORG, we contributed to the development of real-time color flow mapping of ultrasound microrobots. This work demonstrated how individual microrobots can be visualized and tracked in real time using ultrasound, opening new possibilities for image-guided microrobotic navigation and targeted drug delivery in deep tissues and the bladder.

Ultrasound-Activated Cilia for Biofilm Control

In collaboration with PD Dr. Francesco Clavica’s lab, we developed ultrasound-activated cilia as a strategy to prevent biofilm formation and encrustation in indwelling medical devices such as urinary catheters and stents. This bioinspired approach offers a promising noninvasive solution to improve device performance, reduce infection risk, and enhance patient safety.

Awake Urodynamics with Infrared-Based Micturition Detection

In collaboration with Francesco Clavica’s lab (Dr. Pedro Perreira Amado), we are developing improved tools for measuring bladder function in awake, freely responsive mice. By integrating infrared camera technology into urodynamic recordings, we aim to detect the precise onset of urination more reliably than conventional scale-based methods. This platform improves the accuracy of awake urodynamics and EUS-EMG analysis, enabling better assessment of lower urinary tract function in health and disease.