Sylvia O. Suadicani, Ph.D.

Research in our Laboratory focuses on understanding the physiological, cellular, and molecular mechanisms that contribute to urogenital dysfunction in a range of disease contexts, including diabetes, neurological disorders (such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury), urologic chronic pelvic pain syndromes (e.g., interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome), stress and aging-related changes. Our goal is to deepen the understanding of these complex disorders and identify novel molecular targets that can be translated into novel therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions.

Our studies span multiple areas, including:

• Mechanisms of bladder and female sexual dysfunction in metabolic, neurologic, and menopausal conditions
• Organ crosstalk, such as gut–bladder and bladder–genital interactions that contribute to pelvic pain and development of urogenital dysfunction.
• Influence of the gut microbiome on urogenital function and pelvic pain
• Diabetic skeletal complications, including osteopenia and impaired bone adaptation

In our laboratory, we use animal and cellular models combined with physiological, behavioral, pharmacological, genetic, molecular, and histological approaches to examine disease processes from multiple angles. Our work is highly collaborative, and we partner closely with basic scientists and clinical colleagues at Einstein–Montefiore and other institutions to ensure that our findings have translational relevance.

Our research efforts have been supported by NIH NIDDK R01 grants, American Heart Association, New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Board, and Department of Defense CDMRP awards.

1. SONG QX, SUADICANI SO, NEGORO H, JIANG HH, JABR R, FRY C, XUE W, DAMASER MS. Disruption of circadian rhythm as a potential pathogenesis of nocturia. Nat Rev Urol. 2024 Nov 14. doi: 10.1038/s41585-024-00961-0. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39543359.
2. LEMES J.B.P., MALANGE K.F., CARVALHO N.S., NEVES A.F., URBAN-MALDONADO M., KEMPE P.R.G., NISHIJIMA C.M., FAGUNDES C.C., LOTUFO C.M.D.C., SUADICANI S.O., PARADA C.A. Blocking Pannexin 1 Channels Alleviates Peripheral Inflammatory Pain but not Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathy. J Integr. Neurosci. 2024 Mar 20;23(3):64. PMID: 38538230
3. LOLOI J., BABAR M., DAVIES K.P., SUADICANI, S.O. Nanotechnology as a tool to advance research and treatment of non-oncologic urogenital diseases. Therapeutic Advances in Urology, 2022, Jul 26;14:17562872221109023. Review Article (PMCID: PMC9340423).
4. TELLECHEA L.M., FREEMAN S., AGALLIU I., LAUDANO M.A., SUADICANI S.O.*, ABRAHAM N.A.* Feasibility Study to Evaluate Changes in Urinary Metabolites after OnabotulinumtoxinA Injection for Refractory Overactive Bladder. Metabolites. 2022;12(9):880. PMCID: PMC9504526 doi:10.3390/metabo12090880.
5. KONO J., UEDA M., SENGIKU A.; SUADICANI, S.O.; WOO J.T., KOBAYASHI T., OGAWA O., NEGORO H. Flavonoid Nobiletin Attenuates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cystitis in Mice through Mechanisms that Involve Inhibition of IL-1β Induced Connexin 43 Upregulation and Gap Junction Communication in Urothelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 1;23(9): 5037 (PMCID: PMC9102543).
6. LOLOI J., CLEARWATER W., SCHULTZ A., SUADICANI S.O., ABRAHAM N. Medical Treatment of Overactive Bladder. Urol Clin North Am. 2022;49(2):249-61 Review article (PMID: 35428431).
7. STERN J.M., BURK R.D., ASPLI J., KRIEGER N.S., SUADICANI S.O., WANG Y., USYK M., LEE J.A., CHEN L., BECKER J., CHAN M., BUSHINSKY D.A. Kidney stone formation and the gut microbiome are altered by antibiotics in genetic hypercalciuric stone-forming rats. Urolithiasis. 2021;49(3):185-93. Epub 2020/11/09. doi: 10.1007/s00240-020-01223-5. PubMed PMID: 33161469.
8. CIBELLI A., LOPEZ-QUINTERO V.S., McCUTCHEON S., SCEMES E., SPRAY D.C., STOUT R.F. Jr, SUADICANI S.O., THI M.M., URBAN-MALDONADO, M. Generation and Characterization of Immortalized Mouse Cortical Astrocytes from Wildtype and Connexin43 Knockout Mice. Front Cell Neurosci. 2021 Mar 15; 15:647109. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2021.647109. eCollection 2021. (PMCID: PMC8005635).
9. KONO J., UEDA M., SENGIKU A., SUADICANI S.O., OGAWA O., NEGORO H. Urothelium-Specific Deletion of Connexin43 in the Mouse Urinary Bladder Alters Distension-Induced ATP Release and Voiding Behavior. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(4):1594. doi: 10.3390/ijms22041594. (PMCID: PMC7914662).
10. HARROCHE J., URBAN-MALDONADO, M., THI, M.M., SUADICANI, S.O. (2020): Mechanosensitive Vaginal Epithelial Adenosine Triphosphate Release and Pannexin 1 Channels in Healthy, in Type 1 Diabetic, and in Surgically Castrated Female Mice. J Sex Med 2020; 17: 870-880 (PMCID: PMC7188554).
11. STERN. J.M., URBAN-MALDONADO, M., USYK, M., GRANJA, I., SCHOENFELD, D., DAVIES, K.P., AGALLIU, I., ASPLIN, J., BURK, R., SUADICANI, S.O. (2019) - Fecal transplant modifies urine chemistry risk factors for urinary stone disease. Physiol Rep 2019; 7: e14012 (PMCID: PMC6383111)
12. SPRAY, D.C., IGLESIAS, R., SHRAER, N., SUADICANI, S.O., BELZER, V., HANSTEIN, R., HANANI, M. (2019) - Gap junction mediated signaling between satellite glia and neurons in trigeminal ganglia. Glia 2019; 67: 791-801 (PMCID: PMC6506223).
13. SEREF-FERLENGEZ, Z., URBAN-MALDONADO, M.; SUN, H.B. SCHAFFLER, M.B.; SUADICANI, S.O. and THI, M.M. (2019) - Role of pannexin 1 channels in load-induced skeletal response. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1442(1):79-90 (PMCID: PMC6310681).
14. NEGORO, H., URBAN-MALDONADO, M., LIOU, L.S., SPRAY, D.C., THI, M.M. and SUADICANI, S.O. (2014) - Pannexin 1 channels play essential roles in urothelial mechanotransduction and intercellular signaling. PLoS ONE 9(8): e106269 (PMCID: PMC4149561).