Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology



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ANNUAL CAIRIBU MEETING

December 9-11, 2026 Madison, Wisconsin

-Registration is OPEN

-Abstract submission portal is OPEN

-Lodging link is LIVE

More details HERE

Abstracts due October 19, 2026 by midnight Central Time (guidelines HERE)

• Only trainees and early-stage investigators (within 10 years of terminal degree) may submit abstracts to be presented as posters
• "Best Abstracts" and "Best Posters" will be awarded

Travel awards for eligible trainees are available (students and those currently in training positions only)

• Go HERE for guidelines and requirements
• Submit application HERE (deadline October 19, 2026)
• Trainee and ESI pre-meeting designed by and for trainees and early-stage investigators, Wednesday morning, Dec. 9

The annual CAIRIBU meeting is a "home" for trainees and investigators to network, exchange knowledge, and hear from leaders at the cutting-edge of their fields, including:

• Bladder and voiding dysfunction
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract dysfunction
• Urinary tract infection and urobiome research
• Chronic pelvic pain and bladder pain
• Urinary tract stones, ureteral strictures
• Erectile dysfunction and male reproductive health
• Post-radiation cystitis and prostatitis
• Urology-related developmental and genetic diseases
• Neuro-urological disorders and urologic dysfunction
• Immuno-urological illness and pathology
• Aging and its effects across the lower urinary tract

NEW THIS YEAR

Trainee Mixer

Tues., December 8

6:00-9:00 PM

The Graduate Hotel

All trainees welcome

CAIRIBU RESOURCES FOR TRAINEES AND ESIs

Research Training & Development Grants

The CAIRIBU Interactions Core supports investigators in expanding their research expertise. Up to $5,000 is available for travel-related expenses (e.g., ground or air transportation, lodging) or research materials associated with training to advance the research capacity of a CAIRIBU Center or Program or an individual in a CAIRIBU Center or Program. Individuals from the broader urology research community are invited to apply if they intend to gain expertise from a CAIRIBU investigator. Multiple types of activities may be supported. More details HERE.

• CAIRIBU Trainee Newsletter - Latest issue HERE
• CAIRIBU Career Launchpad - HERE

Final Virtual CAIRIBU Trainee Summer Camp: Explore Career Options

Friday, August 21

3:00 PM Eastern

(2 PM Central | 12 PM Pacific)

Panelists are from government, industry, and academia. All are invited.

Government: Michael Goodson, PhD (AFRL, Research Scientist) and Chia-Suei Hung, PhD (AFRL, Senior Biological Research Scientist) 



Industry: Mirjana Trifunovic, MS (MilliporeSigma, Director of Operation)

Academia: Nazema Siddiqui, MD, MHSc (Duke University), Vanessa Hale, DVM, PhD (Ohio State University), and Chad Vezina, PhD (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

FUNDING FOR UROLOGY RESEARCH

Visit the CAIRIBU funding page often. Below are a few listings.

AUA Urology Care Foundation Bridge Award. Applications for calendar year 2027 are accepted beginning Friday, August 7 and ending October 5, 2026. Two awards up to $60,000 each will support salaries and other research-related expenses. Ideal candidates are scientists or clinicians who are (1) navigating federal funding delays, (2) needing to resubmit to non-funding agencies for continuation, or (3) prior AUA or career development awardees who are ready to become or who are already independent investigators.

National Science Foundation grant applications for "Engineering of Biomedical Systems" support research that integrates engineering and life sciences to solve biomedical problems. May include: methods, models, and enabling tools applied to understand or control living systems; fundamental improvements in deriving information from cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems; or new approaches to the design of systems that include both living and non-living components for eventual medical use. PIs are strongly recommended to contact the program director prior to submission. Full proposals are accepted anytime.

Coloplast Interventional Urology Investigator Initiated Study Program provides support for research that advances medical and scientific knowledge relating to urology, urogynecology, endourology, patients treated in these areas, associated caregivers, and the health care providers who work in these areas. This program is open to all qualified researchers who are interested in designing, conducting, and analyzing their own research projects, and who desire funding and/or other assistance from Coloplast. Many types of studies supported. Proposals accepted on rolling basis. Download application form HERE.

CAIRIBU Urology O'Brien Center Opportunity Pool applications from the O'Brien Centers at Stanford University (deadline 10/01/2026) and Columbia University (11/01/2026). SEE BELOW.

CAIRIBU O'BRIEN CENTER OPPORTUNITY POOL APPLICATIONS

The CAIRIBU-affiliated George M. O'Brien Cooperative Urology Research Centers at Stanford University and Columbia University are accepting research applications. See below for due dates and details.

Applicants should aim to generate preliminary data that may be used for future grant applications and testing high risk/high reward concepts. Opportunity Pool projects should be aligned with the overall research goals of the Center to which the applicant applies. While partnerships with the Center are not required, applicants are encouraged to propose projects that could lead to future collaborations with Urology O’Brien Center investigators or other CAIRIBU investigators.

• Specific RFAs for each Center are available HERE
• Up to $100,000 in Direct Costs for up to 1 year may be requested
• Applicants must be: (1) early stage or new investigators (per NIH definition), (2) current K Scholars, or (3) established investigators new to urology research
• Award is contingent on continued funding of the parent Center and/or CAIRIBU Interactions Core

Stanford University Urology O'Brien Center

PI, James Brooks, MD

Applications related to benign prostatic hyperplasia are accepted. Go HERE for more information about the Stanford University Urology O'Brien Center. Applications must be submitted on the CAIRIBU website portal on or before Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time. Applications received by the deadline will be sent for review shortly after that date. Expect a total time of 6-8 weeks from submission date to decision. Project dates are 1/01/2027-12/31/2027.

Columbia University Urology O'Brien Center

PIs, Cathy Mendelsohn, PhD; Anne-Catrin Uhlemann, MD, PhD, Jonathan Barasch, MD, PhD; & Ali Gharavi, MD

Applications should be related to cellular and transcriptional pathways that drive cell type differentiation, inflammation, and mitochondrial functions in the urothelium; heme detoxification and iron sequestration in bacteriostasis and in urothelial cell viability; antimicrobial resistance in UTI; and/or genetic and embryological causes of obstruction and other urinary tract diseases. Go HERE for more information about the Columbia University Urology O'Brien Center. Applications must be submitted on the CAIRIBU website portal on or before Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time. Applications received by the deadline will be sent for review shortly after that date. Expect a total time of 6-8 weeks from submission date to decision. Project dates are 2/01/2027-1/31/2028.

CAIRIBU BPH RESEARCH INTEREST GROUP

Advancing BPH Research

This new interdisciplinary CAIRIBU Community is made up of basic and translational scientists as well as clinicians interested in understanding and better treating BPH.

Wed., Aug. 12, 7:00 PM Eastern

(6 PM Central | 4 PM Pacific)

Zoom link available HERE

Alex Glaser, MD (Endeavor Health) will review modern surgical management of BPH and implications for translational work.

JOIN THIS INTERDISCIPLINARY DISCUSSION. Discuss current knowledge gaps and future strategic research directions.

Dr. Glaser is a urologist and Vice Chief of Urology at Endeavor Health and a clinical associate professor at the University of Chicago. He specializes in endourology and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. He was an NIH-funded surgeon-scientist and investigator with the Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN) and leads two R01 grants in BPH research.

The CAIRIBU BPH RIG is led by early-career clinicians and scientists: Kazumi Taguchi, MD, PhD (University of Alabama at Birmingham); Petra Popovics, PhD (Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University); Renee Vickman, PhD (Endeavor Health); and Scott Quarrier, MD, MPH (University of Rochester). The team plans to meet monthly for a mix of presentations, discussions, literature reviews, and strategic discussions about how to advance BPH research and improve patient care.

CAIRIBU UROBIOME SUMMER MEETING

Investigators and trainees in the CAIRIBU Urobiome Research Interest Group community gathered in Madison, WI on July 30-31, 2026

Led by Nicole De Nisco, PhD (UT Dallas) and Lisa Karstens, PhD (Oregon Health & Science University), more than 60 investigators and trainees exchanged knowledge, engaged in networking and mentoring, and gathered in small working groups to outline writing projects (e.g., manuscripts, reviews, and ideas for research grant applications). Trainees and early-stage investigators - including undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdocs - presented lightning talks and posters. Awards for best abstracts and best posters were given. Keynote speakers included:

1. Linda Brubaker, MD, MS (now Editor-In-Chief of JAMA+ Women's Health)
2. Alan Wolfe, PhD (Loyola University Chicago)
3. Nazema Siddiqui, MD, MHSc (Duke University)

Additional presentations by: Tanya Sysoeva, PhD (University of Alabama at Huntsville), Jean Philippe Gourdine, PhD (Lewis & Clark College), and Vanessa Hale, DVM, PhD (Ohio State University)

BEST ABSTRACT WINNERS

-Postbacs and undergraduate students:

• 1st - Stella Davis & Monique Bittencourt Dias (mentor: Jean Philippe Gourdine, PhD, Lewis & Clark College)
• 2nd - Dhriti Tattari (mentor: Aaron Miller, PhD Cleveland Clinic)
• 3rd - Juliette Kudrick (mentor: Lisa Karstens, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University)

-Graduate students:

• 1st - Rena Yang (mentor: Kymora Scotland, MD, PhD, UC Los Angeles)
• 2nd - Ujjaini Basu (mentor: Nicole De Nisco, PhD, UT Dallas)

-Postdoctoral researchers:

• 1st - Audra Crouch, PhD (mentor: Vanessa Hale, DVM, PhD, Ohio State University)
• 2nd - Sonia Whang, PhD (mentor: Nicole Gilbert, PhD, Washington University)

BEST POSTER WINNERS

• Postbacs and undergraduate students: Megan Cline (mentor: Aayushi Uberoi, PhD, Washington University)
• Graduate students: Lila Nelson (mentor: Catherine Putonti, PhD, Loyola University Chicago)
• Postdoctoral researchers: Dasvit Shetty, PhD (mentor: Zohreh Izadifar, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital)

Read all 22 abstracts HERE | Read the full meeting agenda HERE

View all trainee travel awardees HERE

CAIRIBU COMMUNITY RESOURCES & INITIATIVES

Keep up with CAIRIBU Community publications

View the latest "Have You Read This" on the CAIRIBU website, featuring links to publications of CAIRIBU investigators and trainees. Archive dates back to 2020.

Links to CAIRIBU Community resources:

• CAIRIBU Funding Bulletin (bi-monthly) - Latest issue HERE. Next one comes out in mid-August.
• CAIRIBU Compass (quarterly) - Latest issue HERE
• CAIRIBU Mobile App - HERE (available for iphone users; download from the App Store)
• CAIRIBU Communique (monthly) - HERE
• Curated research funding opportunities from a variety of extramural and CAIRIBU sources - HERE
• CAIRIBU Community news and acknowledgments - HERE

In development:

CAIRIBU Code Commons,

part of a larger collaborative CAIRIBU Computational Community, a hub for shareable computational methods, code, software, scripts, and analytical workflows that support urology research. Explore resources contributed by colleagues, showcase and share your own work, and contribute to a culture of open, reproducible science across the CAIRIBU Community.

This concept is currently in development and may ultimately be part of a broader "CAIRIBU Computational Core." Want to be part of the discussion? Contact the CAIRIBU Interactions Core at cairibu@urology.wisc.edu.

CAIRIBU YOUTUBE

View recorded presentations, video shorts, and other content on the CAIRIBU YouTube page.

CAIRIBU YouTube Playlists are "channels" corresponding to specific research interests - bladder, prostate, infection, research skills, etc. There are now 160 recordings available on a variety of topics related to genitourinary research and on professional and career development.

Kristina L. Penniston, PhD, RD

PI, CAIRIBU U24 Interactions Core

(U24-DK127726)

penn@urology.wisc.edu

Dept. of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI

Links to websites for current CAIRIBU Centers and Programs are on the CAIRIBU website HERE

Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology



CAIRIBU is a community first formed around NIDDK-funded U54 and P20 Urology Centers and K12 Institutional Career Development Programs whose overarching objectives are to address gaps in knowledge related to epidemiology, etiology, development, progression, and expression of non-malignant urologic conditions and to train the next generation of leaders in urology research. The CAIRIBU Interactions Core is the central coordinating body for the CAIRIBU Community and for all collaborative-minded investigators and trainees studying genitourinary diseases.