PCT-KUH: Pittsburgh Center for Training in Kidney, Urology and Hematology

The overall goal of the Networking Core is to build a vibrant and dynamic trainee community in kidney, benign urology and benign hematology-based (KUH) research in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. The Networking Core activities are designed for trainees from high school students through to early career development awardees who are engaged in basic bench science, translational research, data science, clinical research and health services research. Engaging and exciting trainees early in their careers regarding KUH-focused research areas is critical to address the declining numbers of individuals entering the biomedical research workforce. The Pittsburgh region is uniquely equipped to leverage several already existing robust KUH-focused training programs on which to build this community, that include high school summer student research experiences, medical student/resident/fellow research and predoctoral/postdoctoral training. The Networking Core will support a robust mentoring environment for all KUH trainees, in an effort to increase the engagement of trainees early in their careers. The Core activities will include a weekly KUH-focused research seminar series, face-to-face structured interactions across disciplines at our monthly workshops, and active peer to peer, peer-near peer and alumni networks. The Core will leverage current seminar series and other educational opportunities to foster inter-departmental cross-talk and team science. A new virtual platform will be designed to sustain trainee interaction and provide an open forum to exchange ideas using the Pitt Commons website as a backbone. The Networking Core will develop new community outreach programs to local high schools and undergraduate schools, and leverage already existing recruitment efforts from undergraduate summer student research experiences, the Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP) and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).