Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology

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In this Labor Day month, we recognize and honor the hard work behind every breakthrough in genitourinary science!

CAIRIBU MEETING IN MADISON, DEC 3-5

WHAT: 8th annual CAIRIBU meeting

WHEN: Wed-Fri, December 3-5, 2025

WHERE: University of Wisconsin-Madison

WHO: ALL collaborative-minded investigators

WHY: Advance urogenital disease research!

REGISTER & RESERVE LODGING NOW

CAIRIBU Meeting Details:

• TRAINEE PRE-MEETING. A Wednesday morning pre-meeting specifically designed for trainees and early-stage investigators (ESIs) begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 11:45 AM. FREE with CAIRIBU meeting registration.
• CAIRIBU MEETING. The CAIRIBU meeting begins Wednesday afternoon, goes all day Thursday, and concludes Friday afternoon. We will meet in the historic Memorial Union on Wednesday and Thursday and in the Gordon Commons Dining & Event Center on Friday.
• UNIQUE MEETING FEATURES. Popular aspects of the annual CAIRIBU meeting - such as networking, interactions, games, and unique and funky social activities - are once again front-and-center. There will also be: invited keynote speakers; various scientific sessions with presenters from CAIRIBU Centers, K12 Programs, and Research Interest Groups; 2 poster sessions (one on Wednesday and the other on Thursday); and strategic discussions.
• ABSTRACT PREPARATION. Accepted NOW through October 13 from trainees and ESIs (as defined by NIH); go HERE to read the guidelines for abstract preparation. Up to 3 "best abstracts" will be selected for podium presentations; multiple "best poster" awards will be announced at the meeting. EVERY ABSTRACT is reviewed by established investigators; comments are provided to abstract authors after the meeting.
• ABSTRACT SUBMISSION. Use the online portal HERE. Abstracts MUST be submitted on or before October 13.
• TRAVEL AWARDS FOR STUDENTS. CAIRIBU Interactions Core travel awards for trainees may be available for those with demonstrated financial need. Funds are prioritized for those whose mentors are not already part of funded CAIRIBU Centers and Programs.
• MEETING REGISTRATION. Covers most meals and refreshments during breaks. Register HERE.
• LODGING. Rooms at 3 nearby hotels are available for <$130 per night but ONLY reservable by November 2. We will not be able to lobby on your behalf if you book after November 2. Use the links HERE.
• TRAVEL. Information about getting to Madison by air, bus, and personal vehicle is available HERE.

All collaborative-minded investigators and trainees interested in urogenital research are welcome and encouraged to participate

The CAIRIBU Community grew out of the NIDDK Urology Centers Research Program, consisting primarily of the George M. O'Brien Cooperative Urology Research Centers and K12 Urology Research Career Development Programs. The Urology P20 Centers later became part of the CAIRIBU Community. Annual meetings are organized by the CAIRIBU Interactions Core and bring together CAIRIBU Community trainees and investigators as well as other investigators engaged in urology and urogenital research. This is a fun and welcoming meeting. Hear from investigators involved in all kinds of urology research. Participate in structured and unstructured networking opportunities. Visit trainees' posters; last year >50 posters were presented.

Join Lou the Caribou in some ice fishing on Lake Mendota, just steps outside the Memorial Union, the 2025 annual CAIRIBU meeting locale.

LOTS OF UPCOMING CAIRIBU EVENTS

CAIRIBU ARCTICS COMMUNITY FORUMS (Advancing the Research Capacity of Trainees and Investigators at early Career Stages). Now in its 5th year, the CAIRIBU ARCTICS forum series is one of the first series organized by the CAIRIBU Interactions Core. Goals are to develop the professional and research skills of trainees and early-stage investigators. Prior ARCTICS forum topics and speakers may be viewed HERE. The next ARCTICS forum is coming up...

• WHO: Margot Damaser, PhD (Cleveland Clinic), Kyle Wood, MD (University of Alabama at Birmingham), & Lissette Guterriez, MD (Novo Nordisk)
• WHEN: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
• TIME: 1:00 PM Eastern (12 PM Central | 10 AM Pacific)
• WHAT: They will address industry funding for research by discussing their experiences as investigators and as an industry representative. Bring your questions.
• Details below. Zoom link to join available HERE

CAIRIBU ARCTICS Community forums are recorded and posted on the CAIRIBU YouTube channel. Check out all 25 recorded CAIRIBU ARCTICS forums HERE.

CAIRIBU CONNECTIONS. Virtual CAIRIBU Connections introduce and connect investigators with each other to discuss common research interests, methods, challenges, and approaches. CAIRIBU Connections provide platforms for forming cross-disciplinary working groups. The next CAIRIBU Connections is coming up...

• WHO: Stephen Walker, PhD and Gopal Badlani, MD
• WHEN: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
• TIME: 1:00 PM Eastern (12 PM Central | 10 AM Pacific)
• WHAT: They will discuss the recent Interstitial Cystitis/ Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) Global Consensus meeting held at Wake Forest University in April 2025.
• Details below. Zoom link to join available HERE

The CAIRIBU Interactions Core is proud to be able to host the entire recorded proceedings of the IC/BPS on the CAIRIBU YouTube channel. Check out the IC/BPS Global Consensus meeting playlist HERE.

CAIRIBU UROBIOME RESEARCH INTEREST GROUP (URIG) RESEARCH HOURS. Virtual CAIRIBU Urobiome Research Hours bridge knowledge gaps in urobiome and urinary tract infection research. Urobiome RIG meetings and knowledge exchanges began in 2021. Prior topics and speakers may be viewed HERE. Written summaries of most all research hours are also available for reading. The next CAIRIBU Urobiome RIG Research Hour is coming up...

• WHO: Nicole De Nisco, PhD (University of Texas Dallas) and Lisa Karstens, PhD (Oregon Health & Science University)
• WHEN: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
• TIME: 3:00 PM Eastern (2 PM Central | 12 PM Pacific)
• WHAT: They will discuss the state of the urobiome science and present a summary of a recent research strategy sprint organized by the CAIRIBU Interactions Core
• Details below. Zoom link to join available HERE

Prior CAIRIBU Urobiome Research Interest Group Research Hour presentations are available on the CAIRIBU YouTube channel. Review the playlist HERE.

CAIRIBU URO-AGING RESEARCH INTEREST GROUP (AGING-RIG) KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGES. The CAIRIBU Interactions Core is working with various CAIRIBU Community leaders to stimulate discussion and interactions in the area of aging in the lower urinary tract. Monthly virtual forums will kick off in September and proceed on the fourth Monday of each month. The first one is coming up...

• WHO: Indira Mysorekar, PhD (Baylor College of Medicine) and Scott Bauer, MD, MS (University of California San Francisco)
• WHEN: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
• TIME: 3:00 PM Eastern (2 PM Central | 12 PM Pacific)
• WHAT: They will discuss the state of the uro-aging science and present a summary of a recent research strategy sprint organized by the CAIRIBU Interactions Core
• Details below. Zoom link to join available HERE

CAIRIBU UROLIT-LIVE VIRTUAL DISCUSSIONS. This is a brand new CAIRIBU Interactions Core initiative aimed at recognizing investigators across the broader CAIRIBU research community who have recently published research. Monthly virtual forums will tackle recently-published papers in various areas of non-malignant genitourinary research. The series kicked off in August with a discussion of 2 recent papers on benign prostatic hyperplasia. Authors representing the papers were: Manisha Tripathi, PhD (Texas Tech University), Nadia Lanman, PhD (Purdue University), and Renee Vickman, PhD (Endeavor Health System). Future Uro-Lit Live forums will feature discussions on kidney stones, bladder, aging in the urinary tract, urothelium, urethra, female urology, urobiome, and infection.

• NEXT TOPIC: Aging in the urinary tract (2-3 papers TBD)
• WHEN: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
• TIME: 4:00 PM Eastern (3 PM Central | 1 PM Pacific)
• WHAT: Authors will briefly discuss their methods and findings followed by ample time for questions, new ideas, and discussion
• Details below. Zoom link to join available HERE

CAIRIBU TRAINEE NEWS

The CAIRIBU Interactions Core brings you a trainee- and early-stage investigator-focused newsletter. Requested by CAIRIBU trainees, we are currently aiming for quarterly publication. But if popular, it will occur more frequently. Regular features will include:

... Ask a NIDDK Program Officer

... Ask a Postdoc

... Ask a PI

... Ask a Team Scientist

CAIRIBU COMPASS

The CAIRIBU Compass is an online, non-refereed journal of and for the CAIRIBU Community. Primary goal is to support the broader urology research community and raise the visibility of urology research. Professional but informal, academic yet accessible, appropriate for works-in-progress and not-ready-for-prime-time research content. Commentaries and opinion pieces are also welcome. NEXT ISSUE WILL BE OUT BEFORE OCTOBER 1 and will feature news about 2 new K12 Scholars in the Duke University KURe Program (PI, Cindy Amundsen, MD), Jennifer Hammel, PhD (Biomedical Engineering) and Grant West, PhD (Mechanical Engineering).

YOUR abstract, description of a sharable resource, commentary, or article could be featured in future issues; contact the CAIRIBU Interactions Core to find out more

CAIRIBU INTERACTIONS CORE STAFF

MEET STAFF & COLLABORATORS

Kristina (Kris) Penniston, PhD, RD

Principal Investigator of the CAIRIBU Interactions Core (U24-DK-127726), co-PI of the UW-Madison Summer Program for Undergraduate Research in Benign Urology (R25-DK-130838), and clinician-scientist and Distinguished Senior Scientist since 2005 in the Department of Urology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Kris' primary research has focused on kidney stone prevention, influence of nutrition on kidney stone risk factors, and health-related quality of life among kidney stone formers. Kris is also a Registered Dietitian (RD) who maintains a small clinical practice among urology patients at UW Health.

Mariana Coughlin, MS

Research Program Coordinator of the CAIRIBU Interactions Core. Mariana was recently certified in Project Management and provides centralized coordination of a wide variety of CAIRIBU Interactions Core activities. She directs the Interactions Core evaluation program, leads planning and logistics for the CAIRIBU annual meeting and related events, supports the coordination of CAIRIBU research interest groups, and represents the CAIRIBU Interactions Core at various scientific meetings. Fun fact - Mariana worked as a research assistant to Kris during all 4 of her undergraduate years at UW-Madison, several years prior to the creation of the CAIRIBU Interactions Core.

Muen Wang

Website and digital content creator, graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the UW-Madison in 2023. After working for Kris in the Interactions Core and also for another Department of Urology investigator, Muen did a short stint at Epic. Fortunately, she came to her senses and is back with the Interactions Core. Muen, an artist who may be remembered by many for her original drawings of CAIRIBU investigators' pets at the 2024 annual meeting, creates, improves, and oversees the CAIRIBU Interactions Core website (https://cairibu.urology.wisc.edu).

Theo Ng

Administrative Assistant. Theo is freshly graduated from the University of Maryland and thus new to the Madison area. He manages day-to-day communications, scheduling, and outreach for the CAIRIBU Interactions Core and the broader CAIRIBU Community. He also recently took on the challenge of improving and expanding the way we identify and disseminate research funding announcements of interest to investigators and trainees in the CAIRIBU Community and will assist with website updates and CAIRIBU's evaluation program.

Anna Barrett

Research Intern, recently graduated with a BS from the UW-Madison. Anna was with the CAIRIBU Interactions Core for the last 2 years as a student research assistant, where she assisted Kris Penniston in her clinical research as well as created and continues to manage the "Have You Read This" and CAIRIBU events features on the CAIRIBU website. Currently, Anna splits her time between the CAIRIBU Interactions Core and a basic science laboratory on campus (mentor, Johanna Hannan, PhD), where she is learning skills that should prove useful as she applies to graduate school to continue her education in genitourinary research.

Isaac Yang

Research Intern, recently graduated from the UW-Madison with a degree in Communications. Isaac has spearheaded the CAIRIBU Interactions Core’s social media strategy across its various channels. In June, he launched a new campaign to develop the CAIRIBU Community’s presence on LinkedIn. He is contributing to an in-progress manuscript that will detail this venture into community building on social media platforms.

Edison Chiu

Student research assistant and Computer Science major at UW–Madison. Edison created the CAIRIBU mobile app, designed to connect and engage the research community through interactive discussion threads, member directory, event listings, and a centralized source of CAIRIBU content. The app is just about ready to enter phase 2 testing, with an official “unveiling” planned for the annual CAIRIBU meeting in December. Edison also assists Interactions Cores staff in gathering and centralizing metrics used in the CAIRIBU evaluation program.

Raffael Ho

Student research assistant and Biomedical Engineering major at UW-Madison. Raffael is brand new to the CAIRIBU Interactions Core team and will work on data collection, data reporting, and data visualization, and will assist with the building of the CAIRIBU mobile phone app.

Whitney Sweeney, PhD

Whitney, a scientist in the Team Science core of the University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, is a key CAIRIBU Interactions Core collaborator. She is well-known to the CAIRIBU Community for her efforts at education in team science and research collaboration planning. As the CAIRIBU Interactions Core was recently renewed, Whitney will play an even greater role in strategic planning and dissemination of results of CAIRIBU Interactions Core activities.

UROLOGY RESEARCH FUNDING

To adapt to the changing research funding landscape, the CAIRIBU Interactions Core is revamping how we find and promote funding opportunities for urology investigators. In the coming weeks, we will update the CAIRIBU website funding page to include dynamic ways to search and track grants from federal agencies as well as professional societies, and foundations. In the meantime, check out some of the current opportunities we have highlighted:

Innovative Science Accelerator Program. ISAC Awards provide seed funding for exceptionally innovative, disruptive (high-risk/high-reward) research relevant to the Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Research Communities is available. Proposals should demonstrate potential to lead to groundbreaking or paradigm-shifting results that will change the field. Pilot and feasibility projects are NOT allowed. 3-page applications may request up to $100,000 (direct + indirect) for 1 year. Next submission deadline, September 17, 2025.

NIH PAR-25-323: Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Human Required). The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. No preliminary data allowed. Applications must include a separate attachment describing the change in research direction. Proposal must relate to the programmatic interests of ≥1 participating NIH Institute and Center. This opportunity is for basic science experimental studies involving humans (per NOT-OD-18-212, “prospective basic science studies involving human participants”). These studies fall within the NIH definition of a clinical trial and also meet the definition of basic research. Studies NOT conducted with specific applications toward processes or products in mind and which do NOT meet the clinical trial definition should submit under the appropriate Clinical Trial Not Allowed NOFO (SEE BELOW). Posted August 25, 2025. Next due date for new applications, September 26, 2025.

NIH PAR -25-322: Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. Applications must not include preliminary data. Applications must include a separate attachment describing the change in research direction. Posted August 25, 2025. Next due date for new applications, September 26, 2025.

George M. O’Brien Kidney Resource Alliance (OKRA) - OKRA Awards. This is the third offering of the OKRA Opportunity Pool Program. This program supports large pilot grants (≤$50,000 total costs) addressing scientific and technological gaps in kidney research and promoting new collaborations. Projects must utilize an existing OKRA resource at one of the 7 OKRA National Resource Centers. Eligible applicants must be either: 1) an early-stage investigator or 2) an investigator new to kidney disease research. Additional details are on the OKRA website. Optional letters of intent are due Monday, September 8, 2025; full applications are due October 6, 2025.

NIH PA-25-307: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant supports exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. Studies may involve considerable risk but lead to a breakthrough in a particular area or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. This Parent Notice is for basic science experimental studies involving humans (per NOT-OD-18-212, “prospective basic science studies involving human participants”). Posted December 18, 2024. Next due date for new applications, October 16, 2025.

NIH RFA-AG-26-014: Aging Mammalian Tissues In Vitro (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). This NOFO invites applications that propose interdisciplinary research that aims to develop complex mammalian 3-dimensional (3D) in vitromicrophysiological systems (MPS) to model aging and recapitulate aging processes/phenotypes observed in the whole organismin vivo. This NOFO is primarily focused on human cell-derived MPS (e.g., tissue chip, organ-on-chip, tissue organoids). However, systems developed using cells of nonhuman mammalian origin are acceptable for benchmarking, system validation, or when their relevance to understanding human aging biology are justified. Projects must advance the adoption of MPS in aging biology research and as new human-relevant tools for drug discovery. The R21 activity code is intended for exploratory research at the early and conceptual stages of project development. Preliminary data are not required. An essential feature of responsive applications is the adoption of a multidisciplinary approach that includes expertise in aging biology and from disciplines such as stem cell biology, tissue and organ physiology, microfluidics, bioengineering, computational biology, pharmacology, and biostatistics. Posted August 26, 2025. Applications due October20 2025.

NIH RFA-AT-25-004: NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience: Coordination Center for Interoception Research (BPCCIR) (U24, Clinical Trial Not Allowed). This NOFO is to establish the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Coordination Center for Interoception Research (BPCCIR). “Interoception” encompasses the processes by which an organism or a person senses, interprets, integrates, and regulates signals that represent the internal states. Goals of the NBCCIR are to: 1) promote a multidisciplinary approach for interoception research, and 2) bridge the gap between brain and body studies through a U24 cooperative agreement funding mechanism. This NOFO aims to foster interactions within the broad community of interoception researchers rather than focusing on disease-specific subdisciplines. Proposed efforts should: 1) establish and maintain a multidisciplinary team of interoception researchers to oversee and guide NBCCIR activities; 2) create and support digital communication platforms to facilitate networking, collaborations, and information dissemination; 3) plan, organize, and host at least one scientific meeting per year that will include NIH-funded interoception researchers, trainees, and other stakeholders; 4) identify challenges and future technological and scientific opportunities for the field of interoception and develop common terminology, data standards, and common data elements; and 5) generate metrics of success and plans to ensure the sustainability of the interoception research community. Posted September 2, 2025. Applications due November 10, 2025.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation (PhRMA), Inc. predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships: (1) Predoctoral Fellowship in Value Assessment-Health Outcomes Research and (2) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Value Assessment-Health Outcomes Research. The PhRMA Foundation seeks proposals that investigate challenges and potential solutions related to evaluating the delivery, safe use, effectiveness, and value (clinical, patient-centered, and economic) of medicines and other health care interventions. Proposals could be empirical analyses or studies addressing methodological aspects of the following areas: (1) clinical outcomes assessments; (2) patient-reported and/or patient-centered outcomes; (3) patient health preferences research; (4) clinical and economic outcomes using real-world data and analytic tools; (5) evaluation and outcomes assessments focused on health equity or unmet need; (6) innovative methods for measuring and reporting novel value elements (e.g., clinical, cost, health preference) from different stakeholder perspectives, especially patients; (7) development of innovative decision and communication tools; (8) patient-centered value assessment frameworks; and (9) empirical health policy research. Application deadline, October 30, 2025 @ 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time.

Byron Riesch Paralysis Foundation: Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation Research Grant. These grants fund research aiming to cure paralysis. Applications are accepted from American investigators located at institutions with established lines of accountability and fiscal responsibility. The intent of these grants is to promote new and exciting research in the field of paralysis. The following areas of research are of primary interest to the Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation: (1) factors relating to re-myelination, axonal preservation or growth, and cell differentiation that may lead to acute or chronic recovery in spinal cord injured individuals; (2) activities that investigate underlying problems associated with neurological disorders such as spasticity, chronic pain, or bladder/bowel function, and sexual function; and (3) drug therapies or other interventions that will limit secondary damage after a spinal cord injury. The next deadline for applications, December 12, 2025.

DID YOU MISS THE LAST CAIRIBU UROBIOME RESEARCH HOUR?

All CAIRIBU Urobiome Research Interest Group Research Hours are recorded, with presenters' permission, on the CAIRIBU YouTube page. Check out the March 2025 research hour, which featured Emily Coffey, PhD, DVM (University of Minnesota) and Adwaita Parab, graduate student (Baylor College of Medicine; mentor, Indira Mysorekar, PhD).

CAIRIBU YouTube Playlists are "channels" that correspond to specific research interests

CAIRIBU Interactions Core staff recently categorized all CAIRIBU YouTube content by specific area within the lower urinary tract (more than 120 videos!). Find recordings in which you are most interested (e.g., bladder, prostate, infection, etc.). Content related to trainees is also categorized. Look HERE.

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 of 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.