KIDNEY-U: Kidney Investigator Development for Nephrology and Endocrinology in Youth at Utah

PROJECT SUMMARY This project supports a summer research internship program for undergraduate students interested in a biomedical career related to improving kidney and metabolic health. It aims to help outstanding undergraduates achieve their goals of becoming the next generation of nurses, physician assistants, physicians, and scientists by providing research experience, clinical exposure, career development, and community outreach opportunities over 10-weeks. The program unites trainees with mentors who share a passion for research and addressing kidney health, obesity, and diabetes in high-risk populations. The program addresses this health risk by educating the next generation of kidney/urology practitioners about the interrelationship among kidney health, diabetes, and obesity; providing community health screenings for these conditions; and disseminating information about metabolic and kidney health. The annual 10-week summer research internship provides: i) hands-on research experience (basic, clinical, and translational) with established scientists; ii) professional and career development; iii) clinical shadowing; and iv) community immersion. Students receive education in the mechanistic underpinnings which contribute to kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity. They are also expected to submit an abstract to a scientific conference and present their work as a poster and/or oral presentation at this conference. Program goals are to: 1) execute a summer research internship centered on kidney health, diabetes, and obesity that includes comprehensive and life-long academic, career, and educational support through mentored research and the development of a strong, supportive cohort experience; 2) facilitate the immersion of our scholars in local communities to understand health from a lense outside the academic setting; and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of the program on increasing student retention in STEM careers and the nephrology-related biomedical workforce.