Mentored Urology Research Experience

This proposal for an NIDDK Research Education Program has an overarching goal to further the development of individuals into future surgeon-scientists engaged in urology research careers. The planned Program reflects the commitment of the University of Washington Department of Urology to the current and future research workforce needs in Urology. This Program will capitalize on unparalleled resources including a committed Department, a robust research environment, dedicated and experienced faculty, data and research support resources, and a structured curriculum. These resources include research mentors who are practicing urologists, near-peer mentors who are current residents and fellows to act as career development mentors, and a biostatistician to facilitate maintaining the timeline for the Program by working with the participants on research study analyses. This Program leverages the success of the Department’s past mentored research experiences to refine and expand the scope and breadth of research opportunities in areas of urologic disease from earliest prenatal development to the commonest aging associated problems. The objective of this application is to train medical students in benign clinical and health services research, seek out residency positions with dedicated research experiences, all with the long-term goal to support the career development of individuals into urology research careers and to create novel research solutions to benign urological conditions with high public health impact. To achieve this objective, program participants will pursue the following Specific Aims: 1) To gain exposure to methodologies for conducting contemporary clinical and health services research in benign urologic diseases; 2) To conduct a hypothesis-driven research project through which they will develop sophisticated skills in applying clinical and health services research methods; 3) To gain skills in analysis of study data and presentation of research results through manuscripts, scientific presentations, and patient-centered research dissemination strategies; and 4) To prepare trainees for careers in academic urology through dedicated mentorship that includes career and leadership development. Supported by the mentoring and resources of this program, the overarching goal of this NIDDK Research Education Program is to ignite these participants to initiate and retain an excitement for urological research and carry it with them throughout their entire careers.