Laboratory studies to enhance our knowledge of the lower urinary tract, with the aim of developing new treatments, or enhancing current treatments of the following conditions:

• Overactive bladder
• Cancers of the lower urinary tract
• Stress incontinence
• Ureteral stones
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Erectile dysfunction

The research group specialises in studies of the lower urinary tract using isolated tissues to examine contraction, biochemical assays to measure release of ATP, acetylcholine and prostaglandins, histological techniques to examine structure and protein distribution, molecular biology techniques to measure proteins and radioligand binding to measure receptor densities and characteristics.

Current projects examine the receptors and ion channels of the bladder, urethra, ureter, prostate and cavernosum to identify new targets for drugs to treat overactive bladder, stress incontinence, renal stones, and enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction.

Recent studies also include the effects of cytotoxic drugs and metabolites on bladder function to identify the causes of side effects, interactions between anti-cancer drugs, and treatments to enhance the effects of radiotherapy and other cytotoxic drugs.