The American Urological Association will meet on May 19-23, 2012 in Atlanta, GA. For more information, please visit: http://www.aua2012.org/ 
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Meeting Poster (PDF, 117 KB) Printer friendly version of the contents on this page
NIDDK's Mission in Urology Research and Training
Overview
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/ supports a broad range of basic and clinical research and training efforts relevant to benign urologic disease. The NIDDK's Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (DKUH) houses the Urology Programs and has the primary responsibility for advancing the Institute's mission interests in urology.
- Urology Basic Science, including Basic Studies of the Bladder, Prostate, and the Genitourinary tract
- Developmental Biology of the Urogenital Tract
- Urology Clinical Science and Clinical Trials
- Urology Women's Health Studies
- Urology Genetics and Genomics
- HIV/AIDS
- Pediatric Urology
- Urologic Diseases Epidemiology
- Urology Technology Development
The NIDDK promotes urology research and training through numerous activities, including:
- Funding of investigator initiated and Institute solicited individual research projects (e.g., R01s)
- Developing basic and clinical research networks
- Creating resources for investigators
- Enhancing training and career development
- Organizing scientific conferences and workshops
- Developing strategic plans to direct research efforts
- Advancing outreach efforts for the scientific and patient communities
- Promoting urology small business enterprises
- Collaborating with other Federal agencies, advocacy groups, professional organizations, etc.
The NIDDK Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/
The NKUDIC is an information dissemination service of the NIDDK. The NKUDIC was established in 1987 to increase knowledge and understanding of urologic and kidney disease among patients, their families, health care professionals, and the general public.
Urology Contacts
Telephone: (301) 594-7717
Director, KUH Robert A. Star starr@extra.niddk.nih.gov
Urology Programs Ziya Kirkali ziya.kirkali@nih.gov
Epidemiology Program Paul W. Eggers, Ph.D. eggersp@extra.niddk.nih.gov
Development Program Deborah Hoshizaki, Ph.D. hoshizakid@niddk.nih.gov
Clinical Trials Programs John W. Kusek, Ph.D. kusekj@extra.niddk.nih.gov
Urology Training/Career Programs Tracy L. Rankin, Ph.D. rankint@mail.nih.gov
Urology Cell Biology Programs Chris V. Mullins, Ph.D. mullinsc@extra.niddk.nih.gov
Genetics & Genomics Programs Rebekah Rasooly, Ph.D. rasoolyr@extra.niddk.nih.gov
NIDDK Review Branch
The NIDDK Review Branch administers the review of applications responding to Institute specific solicitations and additional special application types.
NIDDK Review Branch Staff:
Review Branch Chief Francisco O. Calvo, Ph.D. calvof@extra.niddk.nih.gov
Review Branch Deputy Chief Michele Barnard, Ph.D. barnardm@extra.niddk.nih.gov
NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
http://www.csr.nih.gov
The Digestive, Kidney, and Urological Systems Review Group (DKUS IRG) contains the Urologic and Genitourinary Physiology and Pathology (UGPP) Study Section. The UGPP serves as the primary study section for review of benign urology clinical and basic research applications directed toward the CSR.
The scientific focus of the UGPP includes function/dysfunction of the bladder and lower urinary tract (LUT), male sexual function, urogynecology (e.g., pelvic floor), infection/inflammation of the LUT, urolithiasis/nephrolithiasis, and urology small business applications, among other areas.
CSR Staff:
DKUS IRG Chief Mushtaq Khan, Ph.D. khanmu@csr.nih.gov
UKGD Scientific Review Officer Ryan Morris, Ph.D. morrisr@csr.nih.gov
Training and Career Development
Post-Doctoral Training
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA )
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/TrainingCareerDev/PostDoc.htm
Individual (F32) These awards provide support for fellows who have received their MD, PhD, or other doctoral-level degree. Fellows need to identify a mentor and plan a research project before applying for 1 to 3 years of funding. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-110.html
Institutional (T32) In place at many major universities, these grants provide pre- and postdoctoral support to fellows at those institutions. To be appointed to a training grant, contact the director of the training program at your institution. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-036.html.
Training & Career Development Timeline
Diagram indicating training and career development timeline : An arrow depicts a timeline for the advancement of an individual’s career from Graduate or Medical School, through a Postdoctoral position and Transition to Jr. Faculty and finally to a tenured position. During the graduate or medical school, pre-doctoral programs are available for either the M.D. or the Ph.D. Graduate/Medical School program grant mechanisms available include the T32, F31, F30, and T35. Postdoctoral training is handled by the same mechanism for the M.D. or Ph.D. while during the Transition to Jr. Faculty positions. Grant mechanisms for these programs include the T32 and F32. Thus, the individual F30, F31, or F32 mechanisms or the institutional T32 or T35 mechanisms are utilized during the pre-doctoral stage or the post-doctoral stage. The last two stages of the timeline relate to career development and employ numerous K mechanisms, the R01 and the transition award that incorporates a K99 and a R00. The transition award is designed to move the individual from a mentored position, supported by the K99, to a position of independence with a R00.
Training-Related Program Announcements
Small Grant Program for NIDDK K01/K08/K23 Recipients (R03)
In the final two years of the career development grant, K recipients may apply for small grant funding for additional development support for their research. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-230.html
NIDDK Education Program Grants (R25)
The R25 program provides support for educational opportunities (E.g., workshops, classes) to engage students from undergraduate to graduate in research areas relevant to NIDDK. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-047.html
Career Development Awards (Ks)
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/TrainingCareerDev/
- K01 (Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards)* Support Ph.D. scientists who have at least 3 to 5 years of postdoctoral training and who need to transition to independence.
- K08 (Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards)* Aimed at physician-scientists to transition them to independence.
- K23 (Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards)* Aimed at clinical investigators engaged in patient-based research.
- K24 (Investigator Awards in Patient-Oriented Research) Support mid-career physicians in patient-oriented research with funded clinical investigations and who are mentoring young clinicians.
- K25 (Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Awards) Available to individuals with quantitative (e.g., engineering, mathematics, computer science, etc.) backgrounds who wish to pursue biomedical research.
* NIDDK-funded K awardees may apply for a small grant (R03) to obtain additional funding during the last 2 years of their 5-year K award.
K99/R00 NIH Pathways to Independence
The NIH has another opportunity for career development. This is an ideal award for exceptional postdoctoral candidates on the fast-track to a productive research career. Applicants must have five-years or fewer of postdoctoral research experience and may not already have an independent faculty position. The first two years of the award, the K99 phase, are intended to be the mentored career-development phase. At the end of the second year, the applicant must have secured an independent tenure-track position to continue the final three years of the award as an R01. Unlike the above career development awards, this opportunity does not require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status, but the applicant must be able to remain in the U.S. to conduct the full five years of the proposed work. For additional information about this award, see http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-063.html.
Loan Repayment Program
The purpose of the Extramural Loan Repayment Program is to ease the debt burden clinical scientists may have incurred while attending medical school and a residency program. Competitive applicants must demonstrate their commitment to a research career and have a debt-to-salary ratio of at least 20 percent. The Loan Repayment Program may repay up to a maximum of $35,000 a year toward each participant’s outstanding eligible educational load debt, depending on total eligible repayable debt. For more details about eligibility and to apply online, visit http://www.lrp.nih.gov.
NIDDK Urology Research Highlights
MAPP Research Network
The NIDDK has established the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network in order to address the fundamental, underlying etiology and natural history of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndromes (UCPPS), including Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome (IC/PBS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Scientific areas of emphasis include: Patient Clinical Phenotyping, Epidemiology, Neurobiology, and Basic Science. Associations of UCPPS with potential co-morbid conditions is another major area of emphasis. See http://www.mappnetwork.org/ for more information.
Genito Urinary Development Molecular Atlas Project (GUDMAP)
GUDMAP is a public database funded by the NIH to provide the scientific and medical community with tools to facilitate research. The key features of this database are: a molecular atlas of gene expression for the developing organs of the GenitoUrinary (GU) tract; a high resolution molecular anatomy that highlights development of the murine GU system; tutorials describing GU organogenesis; and the rapid access to primary data via the GUDMAP database.
NEW! Transgenic mouse line for mapping migrating neural crest-derived progenitors and mature neurons in autonomic ganglia throughout the peripheral nervous system is now available. The dual expression of Cherry-Red flourescent protein in the nucleus and membrane expression of the Green flourescent protein allows illuminates of neuronal nuclei and axonal processes, respectively. For more information, see attached flyer or contact Dr. Hoshizaki.
Diabetic Complications Consortium (formerly the AMDCC)
The goal of the DCC is to provide an environment that foster communication and collaboration between investigator communities involved in complications research. Toward this goal, the DCC:
- Supports a website to serve the diabetic complications community (www.diacomp.org);
- Sponsors annual meetings in complications-relevant scientific areas;
- Solicits and funds pilot projects in high impact areas of complications research.
NIH Common Fund
http://commonfund.nih.gov/index.aspx
Overview
The NIH Common Fund was enacted into law by Congress through the 2006 NIH Reform Act to support cross-cutting, trans-NIH programs that require participation by at least two NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs) or would otherwise benefit from strategic planning and coordination. The requirements for the Common Fund encourage collaboration across the ICs while providing the NIH with flexibility to determine priorities for Common Fund support.
Current Common Fund funding opportunities:
Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54): sustains and advances clinical and translational science as a distinct discipline in order to maximize the safety, efficiency, quality and speed of clinical and translational research. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-10-020.html
NIH-HMO Collaboratory Coordinating Center Limited Competition (U54): to strengthen the capacity, capability and cost-effectiveness of conducting longitudinal large and multi-site studies using primary clinical data and samples in a distributed network of health care organizations. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-11-003.html
Solicitation of Assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) in the Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network (MLPCN) (R03): promotes discovery and development of new chemical probes as research tools for use by scientists in both the public and private sectors to advance the understanding of biological functions and disease mechanisms. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-129.html
Recommended 2012 AUA Meeting Events
“The Science of Female Pelvic Health.” Saturday, May 19th, 8:00am-12:00pm.
Georgia World Congress Center. Rooms A411/412b.
AUA Research Forum: “Showcasing Young Investigators.” Sunday, May 20th, 3:00-5:30pm.
Georgia World Congress Center. Room A305.
“AUA Foundation’s Rising Stars Program” w/ Dr. Johannes Vieweg and Dr. David C. Miller
Plenary Session 1. Tuesday, May 22nd, 10:30am.
“Measurements of Urinary Symptoms: Future Perspectives.” Dr. Ziya Kirkali, NIDDK.
Plenary Session 1: Late Breaking News. Tuesday, May 22nd, 10:50am.
NIDDK Biorepository
http://www.NIDDKrepository.org
The NIDDK Central Repositories store samples and data from large NIDDK-funded clinical studies. Materials/data are made available to the research community at the end of the study or when an interim phase is completed. There are 3 Central Repositories:
- Biosample Repository – Stores many types of biosamples
- Genetics Repository – Receives bio-samples to isolate DNA, etc.
- Data Repository – Maintains study databases
Sample and/or data are currently available from various studies, including:
- Interstitial Cystitis Clinical Treatment Group (ICCTG): Elmiron, Hydroxyzine, and BCG RCTs
- Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms (MTOPS)
- Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network (UITN): SISTR , BE-DRI
- Chronic Prostatitis Collaborative Research Network (CPCRN): cohort, Alfuzosin, Pregabalin RCTs
- Interstitial Cystitis Database Study (ICDB)
- The Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise (PRIDE)
- Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC)
NIH News!
REMINDER: IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE NIH APPLICATION PROCESS
Reminder: Policies Affecting Submission of NIH Grant Applications for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2011
Shorter page limits: most mechanisms are now limited to 12 pages for Research Strategy section. Limits cannot circumvented with inappropriate text in other sections (Human Subjects section or Appendix)
Limits on post-submission material: The NIH restricts acceptable post-submission materials to those resulting from unforeseen administrative issues.
End of two-day correction window: applications must now be complete and error-free on the receipt date
Use latest forms: ADOBE Version B1 package
No more A2 submissions: second revisions no longer accepted
Time window for A1 submissions: no greater than 37 months from original submission date
Grant Basics
What's happening to my application?
http://cms.csr.nih.gov/
Description of what happens to your application : The applicant has a great idea, discusses it with people within their department or with their mentor and writes it up in the correct format for a specific funding mechanism, usually the R01 for the NIH. This application is submitted to the NIH, or more specifically the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). Of course, these days all of this occurs electronically but it is necessary to understand the movement of the application so that you can intercede if necessary. The CSR assigns each application an application number, which codifies the type of application and the institute assignment for a potential funding decision. In addition, the application is assigned a Scientific Review Group (SRG) who will perform the scientific review and will assign the priority score and percentile ranking for a potential funding decision. Following the review, the applicant will receive a summary statement that will contain the reviewers’ critiques and for those applications that receive a score, a summary of the reviewers’ discussion will appear on the summary statement. Unscored applications will be returned to the applicant for revision. Scored applications will proceed to the assigned NIH Institute for a potential funding decision. The staff who handles these applications within the Institute are called program staff. They discuss funding decisions with the Advisory Council. A funding decision is based on scientific mission of the Institute, the Institute’s priorities, the availability of funds and any Institute policies. Program staff generate the necessary paper work to initiate the funding of an application. The paper work is sent on to the Grants Management Offices and Budget Offices within the Institute. These offices make the final determination if funds are available and hence whether an application can be supported, i.e. making an application into a grant. Once the funding decision has been made, the Notice of Grant Award (NGA) is issued to the applying organization or where the applicant works. The NIH does not fund an applicant but rather supports an organization.
Which type of grant is best for me…?
R01 – Investigator Research Project (5 yrs; > $250K/yr)
R21 – Exploratory/Development Grants ($275K over 2 yrs)
K – Career Awards (varied)
F and T – Fellowship and Training Awards (varied)
R41/R42 – Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program
R43/R44 – Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
What about a “Funding Initiative”...??
Depiction of “What about a Funding Initiative?" : A Funding Initiative is an Institute’s call for research in a particular area, i.e. targeted research. If the Institute is very interested in a particular area of research, a Request for Applications (RFA) will be published in the NIH Guide. A RFA has a single receipt date for applications and has funds set aside to support these applications. If the Institute is just interested in a particular area of research, a Program Announcement (PA) will be published. Applications submitted to a PA may come into the NIH on any of the three regular receipt dates. There will not be any funds held back for the support of these applications. The Institute has other ways to alert the scientific community of their interest in an area of research. In general, any initiative that has set-aside funds depicts a strong degree of interest on the part of the Institute. Alternatively, a program announcement with specific referral dates (PAR) but no set-aside of funds is a relatively weak initiative. Aside from targeted support or support via funding initiative, the investigator-initiated research is the major source of applications coming into the NIH. These applications come in on regular receipt dates, are reviewed by standing study sections or SRG, and are not supported by set-aside funds.
Identify/Contact appropriate NIH staff
After you submit your application, who should you contact if you have a question? This depends on where your application is during the review cycle or the support cycle. When you have just submitted your application and have been informed which SRG will by reviewing your application, you should contact the SRG’s head or the SRO, Scientific Review Officer. This is the federal employee, who is responsible for that review group. Once your application has been reviewed and the review meeting is over, you should contact the program director at the Institute to which your application has been assigned for a potential funding decision. [Remember that the status of your application, scored, unscored, etc. is available on the Commons.] The program director may be able to address your potential funding questions and any other questions you may have regarding the role of Council and the date of activation should your application fared very well in the review cycle. Following the National Advisory Council meeting (they met three times a year), the applications that have been approved for support/funding will move on to the Grants Management Official from whom you will receive a letter shortly after the Council meeting. Your Grants Manager is the person responsible for your grant (if your application is supported). They will request updated information and will be checking on a number of items every year. They are the federal employees with the authority to generate the Notice of Grant Award (NGA) on a yearly basis. Once you application is funded, you should address your grant questions to your grants manager but it is all right if you contact your program director. If your program director does not have an answer for you, they can get back to you. Always feel free to contact any of these three individuals. If they do not know the answer to your question, they should be able to get it or tell you who does have it.
New PIs
Sites for information regarding New and Early Stage Investigators:
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/Grants/Resources_NewInvestigators.htm
http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/
The NIDDK has a strong commitment to the training and research funding of New and Early Stage (i.e., New Investigators within 10 years of completion of their terminal research degree or medical residency at the time of applying for an R01) Principal Investigators (PIs). Both the NIH and NIDDK have resources to assist these investigators, including:
- Peer-Review: All NIH peer reviewers are instructed to focus more on a proposed approach than a track record for New and Early Stage Investigators. Additionally, New and Early Stage Investigator applications are clustered during review to facilitate this focus.
- Second-Level Review: Automatic 5% boost in payline for Early Stage Investigators! In addition, all New and Early Stage R01 applications that receive a score in initial review receive special consideration by NIDDK staff.
- NIH High Priority, Short-Term Project Award (R56): During second-level review, New and Early Stage Investigators are given special consideration for a small R56 award, which provides modest support for the PI to collect more preliminary data and submit an improved application.
- Career Development (K) awards, Small grants (R03) awards and Mentoring Workshops (see adjacent poster).
Workshops
NIDDK New Investigator Workshop
Washington, D.C. area.
December 2-4, 2012
Urologic Complications of Diabetes
Washington, D.C. area.
February 2013
NIDDK K-Awardee Workshop
Washington, D.C. area.
April 2013
The NIDDK provides support for investigator-initiated scientific conferences and workshops through the R13/U13 Program. See Program Announcement PA-10-017 and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r13/index.htm. Potential applicants should contact their Program Officer for additional submission requirements.
Small Business
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/SmallBusiness/
Why Seek SBIR/STTR Funds?
- Over $1 billion are available across NIH
- They provide seed money for high-risk projects
- They promote and foster partnerships with collaborators -including academia.
- Intellectual property rights are normally retained by small business
- Funds are NOT A LOAN - no repayment!
- Large corporations look to small companies for initial development
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
http://www.zyn.com/sbir
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm
The SBIR program supports innovative research conducted by small businesses to develop products for commercialization. The PI must be employed by the small business, but a research institution may be involved.
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
http://www.zyn.com/sbir
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm
The STTR program supports innovative research for products that have the potential for commercialization. STTR projects must be conductedcooperatively by a small business and a research institution.
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