Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology

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CAIRIBU IN ACTION

Updated every month by CAIRIBU Interactions Core staff, view and search a list of publications by CAIRIBU-affiliated investigators HERE

The CAIRIBU Interactions Core uses bibliometric techniques to identify and archive CAIRIBU-affiliated publications. Publications from 2020 forward are there. Sort by journal, publication date, topic, authors' names, and more.

CAIRIBU AT AUA

Among the many CAIRIBU-associated investigators and trainees participating in this year's American Urological Association meeting are Jill Macoska, PhD (University of Massachusetts Boston and leader in the UW-Madison U54 George M. O'Brien Urology Center) and Indira Mysorekar, PhD (Baylor College of Medicine and prior PI of a CAIRIBU P20 Urology Center while at Washington University). They organized the half-day Basic Sciences Symposium on Sat., April 26. The topic is "Inflammaging." Speakers will address aging-associated processes in systemic inflammation, immune system dysfunction, and hormonal imbalances that adversely affect lower urinary tract health and function.

The podium session on Bladder & Urethra: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (also on Saturday) also features a strong CAIRIBU presence. Presenters include:

• Doug Strand, PhD, University of Texas Southwestern (and leader in the UW-Madison U54 George M. O'Brien Urology Center)
• Marcela Ambrogi, PhD, postdoctoral researcher and former trainee of Chad Vezina, PhD at the UW-Madison
• Matthew Grimes, MD, CAIRIBU K12 Scholar in the KURe Program at UW-Madison

STAND UP FOR SCIENCE

Amidst proposed cuts to federally-funded research, thousands stand up for science across the US. Dr. Francis Collins, prior head of the National Institutes of Health, was a headline speaker on March 7 at a rally at the Lincoln Memorial (photo at left from the Science Insider; article here: https://www.science.org/content/article/thousands-gather-across-u-s-stand-science-events.

Many scientific advances in medicine have been achieved via funding from federal funding agencies such as the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Science Foundation, and others. Scientists, clinicians, patients, and citizens are urged to protect the public good by protecting the US research enterprise. Many are urging calls to US congressional members. Here's a step-by-step guide for doing so from the Union of Concerned Scientists:



1. Call congressional offices directly or through the switchboard. If you do not have the direct number, call US representatives at 202-225-3121 and US senators at 202-224-3121. Ask the operator to connect you to your representative's office. If you don't know their names or want the direct line to their office, you can find your senators here and your representatives here.
2. Ask to speak to the aide who handles the issue about which you are calling. Your call will be more influential if you speak to the correct aide. However, Congressional aides are very busy and this is not always possible. If you cannot speak directly with the aide, leave a message with the receptionist stating your views.
3. Let them know that you are a constituent. Elected officials are most interested in their constituents' opinions, so be sure to say the city and state you are from.

CAIRIBU EVENTS

The 2025 CAIRIBU meeting is Wednesday-Friday, December 3-5 on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Stay tuned for more info.

UROBIOME Research Interest Group (RIG). Virtual knowledge exchanges are scheduled through 2025. These knowledge exchanges are organized by the CAIRIBU Urobiome RIG, one of several RIGs within the CAIRIBU Community.

Every month, 3rd or 4th FRIDAYS

3:00 PM Eastern (2 PM Central | 12 PM Pacific)

Next up: March 21 (zoom link available here)

Emily Coffey, DVM, PhD is at the University of Minnesota and is active in the CAIRIBU Urobiome Research Interest Group. Adwaita Parab, MS is a graduate student in Dr. Indira Mysorekar's lab at Baylor College of Medicine.

ESPECIALLY FOR TRAINEES & ESIs

ARCTICS = Advancing the Research Capacity of Trainees

and Investigators at Early Career Stages

CAIRIBU-affiliated trainees and early-stage investigators meet each year to develop ideas for ARCTICS forums, all aimed at building skills, increasing knowledge, and boosting trainees' abilities to plan and develop independent careers in genitourinary research. Forums are every month, 2nd Wednesdays.

Join other trainees and early-stage investigators for the 2nd of a multi-part ARCTICS Community forum series on data science

The March 12th forum, again featuring Finn Kuusisto, PhD from the UW-Madison Data Science Institute, will begin with a quick review data structure, data formats, basic concepts related to AI and ML. A deeper dive into AI tools and AI platforms will follow.

By popular demand, Dr. Kuusisto will join us in April and May for two interactive and informative forums on data science and AI

• April 9: Examples of data science and AI in healthcare and in biomedical research
• May: Review published urology-related studies to understand what data science and AI techniques were used, how they were used, and why

Monthly, 3rd THURSDAYS

5:00 PM Eastern (4 PM Central | 2 PM Pacific)

2025 K12 scholar seminar series schedule available HERE

March 20 - Zoom link HERE

Kathleen Kan, MD

• Pediatric Urologist, Department of Urology, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University
• K12 Scholar, K12 Urology Research at Stanford (KUReS) Career Development Program (PIs, Joseph Liao, MD and James Brooks, MD)

DUKE UNIVERSITY KURe PROGRAM ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

Wednesday, April 9

8:00-4:00 PM, Duke University Campus

Artificial Intelligence - Where are we now?

Advancing the precision of neuromodulation in urology

This is the 10th annual Duke University Multidisciplinary Benign Urology Research Symposium led by Dr. Cindy Amundsen and her K12 Career Development Program team. Nearly 40 abstracts were submitted for this year's symposium! Abstract, poster, and travel awards will be given, sponsored in part by the CAIRIBU Interactions Core. Faculty, fellows, postdocs, students, and staff from any discipline are encourage to attend.

Quarterly, 3rd WEDNESDAYS

Jan - Apr - Jul - Oct 2025

1:00 PM Eastern (12 PM Central | 10 AM Pacific)

2025 grad student seminar series schedule available HERE

Next up: April 16 (zoom link available here)

CAIRIBU YouTube Playlists serve as "channels" that correspond to your specific research interests

CAIRIBU Interactions Core staff recently categorized all CAIRIBU YouTube content by specific area within the lower urinary tract (nearly 100 videos!). Now you can quickly find recordings in which you are most interested (e.g., bladder, prostate, infection, etc.). Content related to trainees is also categorized. Look HERE.