Scientists search for cystitis pain 'off switch'

Usually caused by a bacterial infection in the urinary tract, cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. Up to 13% of the population, mainly women, are affected by interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), which is a condition where bladder pain and urinary urgency become chronic.

Current treatments remain invasive or have limited success, but now, a study led by Flinders University researchers suggests that, by targeting certain pain receptors in the bladder, the effects of cystitis could be reduced.

“We have identified cannabinoid receptors located in peripheral bladder sensory pathways as potential targets,” said Dr Stewart Ramsay, first author and Flinders University neuroscience research fellow. “When activated together in our preclinical model, these receptors effectively switch off the exaggerated pain response associated with cystitis.

“By using specially designed ‘peripherally restricted’ cannabinoid compounds that cannot cross the blood–brain barrier, this therapeutic approach eliminates any mind-altering and psychoactive effects that have been seen with cannabis use,” Ramsay added.

Dr Stewart Ramsay. Source: Flinders University

“These findings provide strong support for the development of peripherally acting combination therapies for cystitis, targeting both cannabinoid receptors as a treatment strategy while minimising central cannabinoid-related side effects,” said Associate Professor Vladimir Zagorodnyuk from the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) Neuroscience research group and a senior author on the study.

Associate Professor Vladimir Zagorodnyuk. Source: Flinders University

Peripheral CB1 receptors have been connected to visceral and somatic pain, while CB2 receptors are increasingly recognised for their role in reducing inflammation. The next stage of the work, the researchers said, will be to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of the therapeutic strategy, with the goal of translating the findings towards human clinical studies.

The study was published open access in Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical and you can read it at doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2026.103444.

Top image: Dr Stewart Ramsay in the lab. Source: Flinders University