(UroToday.com) At the 2026 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, Dr. Neeti Gandhi from the University of Chicago presented promising preclinical data evaluating ReBLAST, a novel small-molecule which has been previously shown to stimulate stem and progenitor cell proliferation, as a possible avenue for functional bladder tissue regeneration and reconstruction.
Patients with severe bladder dysfunction often require major reconstructive surgery, commonly involving intestinal tissue grafts to augment the bladder or divert urine. However, these tissue grafts are unfortunately biologically incompatible with the urinary environment, which may consequently lead to a number of chronic complications. While tissue-engineered scaffolds have emerged as potential alternatives, these approaches are limited by the complexity, cost, and feasibility of harvesting and expanding patient-derived cell populations, indicating the need for an effective ‘acellular platform’ in reconstructive urology.
The study was composed of both in vitro and in vivo components. In vitro, human primary urothelial cells were cultured and exposed daily to varying concentrations of ReBLAST, ranging from 150–250 nM for up to 13 days. Investigators evaluated cellular morphology and quantified nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratios as a marker of primitive progenitor-like cell populations. In vivo, female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent approximately 70% cystectomy followed by bladder augmentation with a citrate-based scaffold. Animals subsequently received either saline or intravesical ReBLAST instillations twice weekly for four weeks.
In vitro findings showed that ReBLAST exposure at 200 and 250 nM increased the proportion of primitive progenitor-like cell populations compared to controls. Notably, by day 13, these populations subsequently decreased, suggesting their progression toward terminal differentiation and maturation.
In vivo, ReBLAST demonstrated preservation of bladder compliance following reconstruction. Notably, bladder compliance measurements post-cystectomy were physiologically comparable to baseline values, 4 weeks following augmentation. Histologic analysis of the regenerated bladder tissue showed increased muscle content, vascularization, and blood vessel density in the ReBLAST-treated cohort compared to saline-treated controls.
Dr. Gandhi concluded that both the in vitro and in vivo findings support the regenerative potential of ReBLAST as an acellular approach for bladder tissue engineering. By stimulating endogenous progenitor cell populations and promoting functional tissue remodeling, this platform may offer a clinically feasible alternative to current reconstructive approaches that rely on intestinal grafting or complex cell-based therapies.
Following the presentation, a member of the audience asked if the regenerated tissue was evaluated for increased risk of cancer development. Dr. Gandhi shared that cancer development was indeed assessed within their experimental groups, and no cancerous cells were identified. Moreover, she also explained that over the course of the experiment, and likely as the regenerated cells developed, several markers became deactivated, further decreasing the risk of cancer development. The presentation concluded with the assertion that several additional studies, including investigation of ReBLAST’s mechanism of action, are currently being planned or are already underway as they progress toward clinical trials.
Presented by: Neeti Gandhi, PhD, University of Chicago, during the 2026 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, May 16, 2026
Written by: Tom No, Junior Specialist, Department of Urology, University of California Irvine, during the American Urological Association (AUA) 2026 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, Fri, May 15 – Mon, May 18, 2026.