The Stanford O’Brien Urology Research Center (U54) is requesting proposals for the Center’s Opportunity Pool Research Funding Program. This Program seeks to encourage interactions between the O’Brien Urology Centers and the larger research community to grow research in benign urological diseases. The Stanford site focuses on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male lower urinary tract symptoms arising from this condition. However, applications on any topic in benign urology will be considered, particularly if they utilize Core Resources and Center expertise. A central goal of the Opportunity Pool funding mechanism is to increase the capacity of the urology research community by leveraging existing O’Brien Urology Center resources. Additional goals include supporting the generation of preliminary data that serves as the basis for future grant applications, such as investigator initiated R01s, and testing of high risk/high reward concepts. The program is designed to bring new investigators into benign urology research.

Opportunity pool projects should be integrated within the overall research goals of a current O’Brien Urology Center and where possible make use of existing Biomedical Cores or other resources at the Stanford Center. Funds to support Opportunity Pool applications are set aside in the NIDDK award in our Stanford O’Brien Urology Research Center. Interested applicants should contact Dr. James Brooks, Director of the Stanford O’Brien Urology Research Center: jdbrooks@stanford.edu.

For additional background information on the O’Brien Urology Centers (U54) Program and Opportunity Pool Program see: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFADK-18-029.html

For additional information, please see the CAIRIBU website under “Funding”: https://niddkcairibu.urology.wisc.edu/

Eligible Applicants

Applicants are limited to early stage investigators (see NIH definition: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/research-funding/process/apply/new-early-stageinvestigators), new investigators (per NIH definition), current K Scholars, or established investigators not previously involved in genitourinary research. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Brooks to discuss the proposed study and for approval prior to application submission.

One of the major Goals of the Stanford O’Brien Urology research Center is to train the next generation of researchers in benign urological diseases. Our training programs encompass all levels of trainees, from high school students to postdoctoral scholars who hold an MD, PhD, or MD/PhD. In addition we are working to recruit and train junior faculty members at the start of their career into benign urology research through the Opportunity Pool Grant Program, and membership in the CAIRIBU Consortium (https://niddkcairibu.urology.wisc.edu/).

Postdoctoral fellowship positions

Please see the Postdoctoral fellowship website to look for open positions in the laboratories of the Stanford O’Brien faculty investigators: James D. Brooks, Robert B. West, and Jonathon R. Pollack. https://postdocs.stanford.edu/prospective/opportunities

We also participate in several summer training opportunities for college students and provide funding to support students to work in benign urology. These programs include:

The Stanford Pre-Renal Initiative

This program involves faculty for the departments of Pathology, Urology and Pathology and allows undergraduates to gain an understanding of benign diseases of the kidney, urinary tract and male reproductive system through a structured training program and research experiences. This program is funded by a R25 grant in the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, and the Stanford O’Brien Urology Research Center U54 grant. Applications are accepted in January. Information on this program can be found at: https://med.stanford.edu/nephrology/education/prerenal.html

Stanford Summer Community College Premedical Program (SSCCPP)

This program targets current Community College students considered low income and/or underrepresented in medicine providing exposure to medicine and health through topics in health disparities, leadership challenges in health provision and administration, science success strategies, professional development, and research exposure through the Stanford O’Brien Center. Additional information can be found at:  https://med.stanford.edu/odme/pre-med-students/summer-pre-med-programs.html

There are several other summer research programs available through Stanford that will allow candidates to work with faculty from the Stanford O’Brien Urology Research Center. A complete listing of summer research opportunities can be found at:  https://oso.stanford.edu/programs/undergraduate-students