NIDDK on the Road : The American Urological Association April 25 - 30, 2009

The American Urological Association will meet on May 29 - June 3, 2010 in San Francisco, CA http://www.auanet.org/content/homepage/homepage.cfm Exit Disclaimer .


Meeting Poster (PDF, 235 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.

Major scientific areas of interest in the Urology Programs Include:

  • 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

Division of Kidney, Urologic & Hematologic Diseases (DKUH) Urology Staff


http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/AboutNIDDK/Organization/kuh_table.htm
Telephone: (301) 594-7717

Director, KUH Robert A. Star starr@extra.niddk.nih.gov
Genetics & Genomics Programs Rebekah Rasooly, Ph.D. rasoolyr@extra.niddk.nih.gov
Urology Programs Debuene Chang, M.D. changtd@mail.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
Urology Programs Leroy M. Nyberg Jr., Ph.D., M.D. nybergl@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 Kidney Development and Genitourinary Diseases (UKGD) Study Section. The UKGD 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 UKGD includes the normal and abnormal development of kidney, urinary tract, and the male genital system; as well as cellular, physiologic, and pathophysiologic processes of the bladder, prostate, genitourinary tract, and the pelvic floor.
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

Pre- and Post-Doctoral Training Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA )

http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/TrainingCareerDev/

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. Postdoctoral training is handled by the same mechanism for the M.D. or Ph.D. while during the Transition to Jr. Faculty positions. 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.

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. The NIDDK has two loan repayment programs: one for clinicians and one for pediatricians. In addition to these NIDDK programs, the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) sponsors two other loan repayment programs for clinicians: one for those involved in health disparities research and another for clinical researchers from disadvantaged backgrounds. 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 .

Career Development Awards

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.

K99/R00 NIH Pathways to Independence

The NIH has another opportunity for career development. This is an ideal award for talented postdoctoral candidates on the fast-track to a productive research career. Eligible 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 most 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://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-036.html .

* NIDDK-funded K08 & K23 awardees may apply for a small grant (R03) to obtain additional funding during the last 2 years of their 5-year K award.

Note: All NIH fellowships and career development award mechanisms except the K99/R00 require U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status. Application forms and instructions are available via the NIH website. Completed applications must be submitted for specific deadlines to the NIH for evaluation by a panel of scientists. Once your application is reviewed, you will receive the written evaluation as well as a numerical “score,” which rates your application. The NIH Institutes fund the best applications submitted.

NIDDK Urology Research Highlights

Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network (UITN)

http://www.uitn.net/ Exit Disclaimer

The NIDDK sponsored UITN is a group of urologists and urogynecologists investigating treatments for urinary incontinence. The UITN is conducting a number of trials:

  • TOMUS ( T rial O f M id- U rethral S lings) - The TOMUS study will compare the outcomes of minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat stress urinary incontinence in women.
  • SISTEr ( S tress I ncontinence S urgical T reatment E fficacy T r ial) - This study compares the long-term outcomes of two common surgeries for stress urinary incontinence, the Burch and sling procedures. SISTEr has completed enrollment. Primary results are published (NEJM(2007)356(21):2143-55). The extended follow-up phase, E-SISTEr, is collecting data.
  • BE-DRI ( B ehavior E nhances D rug R eduction of I ncontinence) - This study will determine if the addition of behavioral treatment to drug therapy for the treatment of urge incontinence will make it possible to discontinue the drug and still maintain a reduced number of accidents. This trial is completed and primary results are pending.

NIDDK Prostate Research Strategic Plan

The NIDDK in collaboration with a committee of outside experts has developed a new strategic vision to guide future research efforts for basic science, epidemiology, translational science, and clinical studies of benign prostate disease. This Strategic Plan will guide future decisions by the NIDDK in developing new research efforts and will serve as a resource for the urology community in identifying high priority areas of investigation. For information on how to order the plan see: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/

*Recommended Presentations*

Findings relevant to current NIDDK-supported efforts will be reported at the Plenary Session of the 2009 AUA Meeting:

  • Stromal-Epithelial Interactions in Prostate Development – David Rowley, PhD (Plenary Session, Sunday, April 26)
  • Overlap Between Prostatitis and Other Pelvic Pain Syndromes – Kristene E. Whitmore, MD (Plenary Session, Monday, April 27)
  • Re-Look at the Use of Amitriptyline – Phil Hanno, MD (Plenary Session, Monday, April 27)
  • Impact of Fluid Mgt. on Fluid Intake and UI in the BE-DRI Trial for OAB – Elizabeth Mueller, MD (POD38, Tuesday, April 28)

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/ Exit Disclaimerfor more information.

NIH Roadmap

http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/

Overview

The NIH, with input from a wide range of relevant communities, formulated the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. The NIH Roadmap is designed to address the most pressing problems facing medical research. The NIH Roadmap identifies the most compelling opportunities in three main areas:

  • New Pathways to Discovery –Invests in emerging and needed areas of research such as biological pathways and networks, structural biology, molecular libraries and imaging,
    nanotechnology, bioinformatics, and computational biology.
  • Research Teams of the Future –Supports both individual creativity and collaborative team efforts by supporting interdisciplinary research, high-risk research, and public-private
    partnerships.
  • Re-Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise –Assists clinical research through
    harmonizing regulatory policies, multidisciplinary training, development of new networking and diagnostic tools, and facilitating the establishment of academichomes for clinical and translational research.

These efforts are promoted in large part through published NIH Roadmap funding initiatives. Selected NIH Roadmap Funding opportunities of particular relevance to urology include:

For a complete list, see: http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/grants/index.asp

NIDDK Biorepository

http://www.NIDDKrepository.org Exit Disclaimer

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)
  • Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms (MTOPS)
  • Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey
  • Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network – SISTR (UITN)
  • Interstitial Cystitis Database Study (ICDB)
  • Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC)

NIH News!

NIH and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

The recent ARRA legislation provides an unprecedented level of funding to the NIH to help stimulate the U.S. economy through the support and advancement of scientific research. Numerous opportunities will be available to researchers over the next two years – including funding of new research projects and administrative assistance to ongoing projects. All investigators are encouraged to check the NIH and NIDDK websites for updates!
http://www.nih.gov/recovery/index.htm
http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Recovery/

Multiple PI Recognition

NIH is currently implementing a policy to recognize multiple PIs on a single R01 grant (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/multi_pi/index.htm).

Enhancing Peer Review at NIH

The NIH is currently working with the scientific community to identify ways to enhance the peer review system, including changes to review guidelines,
reviewers, and the length of the R01 grant application. Numerous important changes are being implemented. 

Grant Basics

What's happening to my application?

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)
F and T – Fellowship and Training Awards (varied)
K – Career 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

http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/Funding/Grants/Resources_NewInvestigators.htm
The NIDDK has a strong commitment to the training and research funding of new investigators. Both the NIH and NIDDK have resources to assist new investigators, including:

  • Peer-Review
    All NIH peer reviewers are instructed to focus more on a proposed approach than a track record for new Principal Investigators (PIs).
  • Second-Level Review
    Automatic 2% boost in payline for a full five years of support! In
    addition, all new-investigator R01 applications that receive a score in initial review receive special consideration by NIDDK staff. In FY2008, DKUH funded 30 new investigator R01s (part of the NIH-wide target of 1500 new PIs).
  • New Director’s Bridge Award
    All renewals for an investigator’s R01 are eligible for nomination for a New Director’s Bridge Award. This award is designed to provide
    support while preparing to revise and resubmit.
  • NIH High Priority, Short-Term Project Award (R56)
    During second-level review, new 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     .

Workshops

2009 Advancing Urologic Research – July 14–15, 2009. Bethesda, MD.

Genetics of GU Tract Malformations – Fall 2009. Washington DC area.

Stem Cells in Repair, Regeneration and Tissue Engineering –Winter
2010. Washington DC area.

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 Exit Disclaimer
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

  • The SBIR program supports innovative research conducted by smallbusinesses 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 Exit Disclaimer
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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Page last updated: April 16, 2009

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