Dr. Brendan Frainey, MD, in partnership with Dr. Maria Hadjifrangiskou, PhD, is leading a translational, multi-institutional, longitudinal study of the urobiome in patients with spina bifida. This investigation collects biospecimens (urine and stool specimens) of children with spina bifida at their regular appointment visits to better understand how the bladder’s urinary microbiome (like the gut microbiome) changes over time with different medications, bladder management, and bowel management strategies. The goal of this study is to better understand the impact of the gut and urinary microbiome on individuals with spina bifida, particularly regarding their risk for urinary tract infection.
Selected Publications
Reasoner SA, Frainey BT, Hale OF, et al. Unmasking pathogen traits for chronic colonization in neurogenic bladder. Cell Rep 2026;45(5):117302. PMID: 42024499.