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ForwardEarly-Career Investigators Workshop - ECIW (2025)
Nurturing the success of early-career urologist-scientists is a major goal of the AUA Office of Research and the AUA Research Council. In particular, when the skills needed to be successful in research are well-developed in urology physician-scientists (researchers), they have enhanced abilities to more effectively communicate with their patients on the latest research relevant to the patients' diseases or conditions, engender greater patient confidence in evidence-based clinical decision-making, and better ensure delivery of the highest quality of patient care through the ability to understand, engage in, and employ in their practice new knowledge from urologic research. The ability to successfully compete for funding for a physician's own research program is an integral part of the skillset needed to be successful in research. The collaborative Early-Career Investigators Workshop (ECIW) provides an opportunity for promising junior researchers to receive individualized mentoring, insights into the scientific review process, information about independent funding sources, and grant writing guidance. The goal of the workshop is to motivate and support researchers in the early stages of their careers by providing an outstanding program led by established, well-funded investigators (both researchers and other investigators) in urologic research. This multi-faceted workshop is geared toward individuals planning to submit competitive research proposals to the major funders of urologic research.
CURRICULUM: The program is designed to foster career success and hone successful grant writing skills.
The program consists of the following elements:
- Mentorship
- Didactic Instruction (Virtual and Live)
- Specific Aims Workshop (Live Virtual)
- Grant Funding Mechanisms Webinar
- Individual and Small Group Proposal Review and Critiques with Senior Scientific Advisors
- Mock Study Section
- Grant Review/Revision
Course Registration Fees
Workshop participants must pay the registration fee by Friday, August 1, 2025:
- $460 registration fee for AUA members
- $600 registration fee for non-AUA members
Please contact Marielle Marktanner, Research Education Coordinator at [email protected] if you do not receive the member rate as an AUA member.
Acknowledgements
Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by 1 R13 DK145251-01 from NIDDK. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Target Audience
- Urologist
- Researcher/Scientist
Learning Objectives
After participating in this educational activity, participants will be able to:
- Determine which components of their research efforts interact or expand upon cutting-edge and developing areas in basic and translational research;
- Develop and refine a compelling, innovative, and testable hypothesis;
- Develop a reasonable and 'do-able' experimental plan that adequately tests the stated hypothesis;
- Identify potential limitations of the proposed experimental plan and alternative experimental outcomes, and develop responsive alternative experimental approaches;
- Expand the initial concepts presented in the application to optimally project future directions, concepts, and studies;
- Avoid common pitfalls that typically dampen the enthusiasm of grant reviewers;
- Demonstrate proficiency with the necessary administrative (nuts-and-bolts) components of NIH grant applications.
| Early-Career Investigators Workshop Program | ||||||
| Pre-Workshop Library | ||||||
| Lecture | Faculty | |||||
| Mentor Relationships | LaMonica Stewart, PhD | |||||
| Meharry Medical College | ||||||
| Selling Yourself Through Your NIH Biosketch | Rosalyn Adam, PhD | |||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| Establishing Your Independent Urologic Research Lab | Dolores Lamb, PhD, HCLD (ABB) | |||||
| Children’s Mercy | ||||||
| Preparing for Your 5-Minute Research Proposal Pitch | Alexandra Polasko, PhD | |||||
| Stanford University | ||||||
| Preparing for Your 5-Minute Research Proposal Pitch | Tristan Nicholson, MD, PhD | |||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| Specific Aims Workshop Webinar – Friday, September 12, 2025 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET) | ||||||
| Moderated by Drs. Rosalyn Adam, John Gore, and Erika Wolff | ||||||
| Aim: This webinar provides advanced-career group mentees with an opportunity to receive feedback on their Specific Aims pages, while early-career mentees can engage and learn from the advanced-career mentees. | ||||||
| Pre-requisite work: Advanced Career Mentees to share their Specific Aims page by Friday, September 5th, 2025, so that Faculty and Webinar Moderators can review. | ||||||
| Specific Aims Workshop Webinar Program | ||||||
| Time | Lecture | Faculty | ||||
| 9:00 AM – 9:10 AM | Introduction | Course Directors: | ||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| 9:10 AM – 9:40 AM | Specific Aims Workshop: Part I | Erika Wolff, PhD | ||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| 9:40 AM – 9:45 AM | Questions and Answers | |||||
| 9:45 AM – 10:05 AM | Review of Advanced-Mentee Aims 1 | Lauren Corona, MD | ||||
| 10:05 AM – 10:25 AM | Review of Advanced-Mentee Aims 2 | Nathan Merrill, PhD | ||||
| 10:25 AM – 10:45 AM | Review of Advanced-Mentee Aims 3 | Madhur Nayan, MD, PhD | ||||
| 10:45 AM – 11:05 AM | Review of Advanced-Mentee Aims 4 | Aisha Siebert, MD, PhD | ||||
| 11:05 AM – 11:25 AM | Review of Advanced-Mentee Aims 5 | Richa Singh, PhD | ||||
| 11:25 AM – 11:45 AM | Review of Advanced-Mentee Aims 6 | Glenn Werneburg, MD, PhD | ||||
| 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Questions and Answers Conclusion | Course Directors: | ||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| Grant Funding Mechanisms Webinar – Thursday, September 25, 2025 (4:00 – 6:30 PM ET) | ||||||
| Aim: This webinar provides early-career urologist-scientists with an opportunity to learn more about independent funding sources and understand the unique facets pertaining to each funder’s application process. | ||||||
| Grant Funding Mechanisms Webinar Program | ||||||
| Time | Lecture | Faculty | ||||
| 4:00 PM – 4:05 PM | Welcome & Introductions of Funding Speakers | Course Directors: | ||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| 4:05 PM – 4:20 PM | NIDDK Presentation | Christopher Mullins, PhD | ||||
| (15 mins) | National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases | |||||
| 4:20 PM – 4:25 PM | NIDDK Q&A | |||||
| (5 mins) | ||||||
| 4:25 PM – 4:40 PM | VA Presentation | Eric Schwinder | ||||
| (15 mins) | US Department of Veterans Affairs | |||||
| 4:40 PM – 4:45 PM | VA Q&A | |||||
| (5 mins) | ||||||
| 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM | CDMRP Presentation | Theresa Miller, PhD | ||||
| (15 mins) | Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs | |||||
| 5:00 PM – 5:05 PM | CDMRP Q&A | |||||
| (5 mins) | ||||||
| 5:05 PM – 5:20 PM | NCI Presentation | Corinne Boulanger-Espeut, PhD, MBA | ||||
| (15 mins) | National Cancer Institute | |||||
| 5:20 PM – 5:25 PM | NCI Q&A | |||||
| (5 mins) | ||||||
| 5:25 PM – 5:40 PM | PCORI Presentation | Nora McGhee, PhD | ||||
| (15 mins) | Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) | |||||
| 5:40 PM – 5:45 PM | PCORI Q&A | |||||
| (5 mins) | ||||||
| 5:45 PM – 6:00 PM | ACS Presentation | Kathleen Goss, PhD | ||||
| (15 mins) | American Cancer Society | |||||
| 6:00 PM – 6:05 PM | ACS Q&A | |||||
| (5 mins) | ||||||
| 6:05 PM – 6:20 PM | Catalyst Presentation | Kristina Penniston, PhD, RDN, FAND | ||||
| (15 mins) | University of Wisconsin-Madison | |||||
| 6:20 PM – 6:25 PM | Catalyst Q&A | |||||
| (5 mins) | ||||||
| 5:50 PM – 6:30 PM | Closing Remarks | Course Directors: | ||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| Early-Career Investigators Workshop – Friday/Saturday, October 10-11, 2025 | ||||||
| Early-Career Investigators Workshop Program | ||||||
| Day 1 - Friday, October 10, 2025 | ||||||
| 7:45 AM – 8:30 AM (45 mins) | Attendee Arrival & Registration (Breakfast Available) | Attendees can pick up registration badges and packets with materials from funding speakers at the registration table. | ||||
| 8:30 AM – 8:45 AM (15 mins) | Welcome and Day 1 Goals Introduction of Faculty Mentors | Course Directors: | ||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| 8:45 AM – 10:15 AM (90 mins) | Specific Aims Workshop: Part II | John Gore, MD, MS | ||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM (30 mins) | Selling Yourself Through Your NIH Biosketch: Case Studies | Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM (15 mins) | Networking Break | |||||
| Concurrent Trainings | ||||||
| Early-Career Mentee Group (in Auditorium) | Advanced-Career Mentee Group (in Conference Room) | |||||
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (60 mins) | Developing Grant Ideas | Christopher Barbieri, MD, PhD Weill Cornell Medicine Tullika Garg, MD, MPH, FACS Geisinger Health System H. Henry Lai, MD Washington University Physicians | 1:1 or 1:2 meetings with faculty mentors including guidance on • Tips for balancing grant writing and building an early career research program with also trying to build early career surgical practice • Work time for grant proposal editing and presentation editing | Conference Room | ||
| 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM (45 mins) | Networking Lunch | |||||
| 12:45 PM – 1:15 PM (30 mins) | Composing a Successful Research Proposal | Christopher Barbieri, MD, PhD | ||||
| Weill Cornell Medicine | ||||||
| 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM (30 mins) | Common Grant Writing Pitfalls | Dolores Lamb, PhD, HCLD (ABB) | ||||
| Children’s Mercy | ||||||
| 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM (45 mins) | How to Manage Your Own Lab: Budget, Project Management, And Everything They Don’t Teach You! Case Studies | All Faculty Mentors participate. | ||||
| 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM (30 mins) | Group Picture in Atrium/Break | |||||
| 3:00 PM – 3:15 PM (15 mins) | AUA Grant Funding Presentation and Q&A | Sarah Gross, MS | ||||
| American Urological Association | ||||||
| 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (30 mins) | Research in Non-typical Environments | Tullika Garg, MD, MPH, FACS | ||||
| Geisinger Health System | ||||||
| 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM | Perspectives from a Senior Investigator | Stephen Zderic, MD | ||||
| (30 mins) | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | |||||
| Day 1 Closing Remarks | Course Directors: | |||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM | Boston Children's Hospital | |||||
| (15 mins) | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Tour of the William P. Didusch Center for Urologic History Museum | Tupper Stevens, MLS | ||||
| (30 mins) | American Urological Association | |||||
| 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (60 mins) | Dinner & Networking | |||||
| 6:15 PM | AUA Building Closes | |||||
| Early-Career Investigators Workshop – Friday/Saturday, October 10-11, 2025 | ||||||
| Early-Career Investigators Workshop Program | ||||||
| Day 2 – Saturday, October 11, 2025 | ||||||
| 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (30 mins) | Attendee Arrival & Registration (Breakfast Available) | |||||
| Welcome & Day 2 Goals | Course Directors: | |||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| 8:00 AM – 8:15 AM | Boston Children's Hospital | |||||
| (15 mins) | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| Concurrent Trainings | ||||||
| Early-Career Mentee Group (in Auditorium) | Advanced-Career Mentee Group (in Conference Room, Library, and Exhibit Room) | |||||
| 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM (45 mins) | Meetings with faculty mentors; Work time for Specific Aims editing | Independent work time for grant-proposal editing and presentation editing. | ||||
| Email final presentation to Marielle Marktanner ([email protected]) | ||||||
| 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM (30 mins) | Journey from K to R Grants | Richard Lee, MD | ||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Networking Break | |||||
| (15 mins) | ||||||
| Introduction to Mock Peer Review What Happens in a Study Section | Course Directors: | |||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| 9:45 AM – 10:15 AM | Boston Children's Hospital | |||||
| (30 mins) | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| Mock Peer Review Session | Dolores Lamb, PhD, HCLD (ABB) | |||||
| Children's Mercy | ||||||
| 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM (30 mins) | Unfunded K01 Application | All Faculty Mentors serve as the review panel | ||||
| 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM (30 mins) | Funded K23 Application | All Faculty Mentors serve as the review panel | ||||
| 11:15 AM – 11:30 AM (15 mins) | Mock Peer Review Session Q&A | All Faculty Mentors serve as the review panel | ||||
| 11:30 AM – 12:15 AM (45 mins) | Responding to the Summary Statement | H. Henry Lai, MD | ||||
| Washington University Physicians | ||||||
| 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM (45 mins) | Networking Lunch | |||||
| Advanced Mentee Presentation Introduction | Course Directors: | |||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| 1:00 PM – 1:10 PM | Boston Children's Hospital | |||||
| (10 mins) | ||||||
| · Presenters are to use no more than 5 slides | John Gore, MD, MS | |||||
| · 5-minute presentations, 2-minute feedback | UW Medicine | |||||
| 1:10 PM – 1:17 PM | Presentation 1 | Lauren Corona, MD | ||||
| 1:17 PM – 1:24 PM | Presentation 2 | Nathan Merrill, PhD | ||||
| 1:24 PM – 1:31 PM | Presentation 3 | Madhur Nayan, MD, PhD | ||||
| 1:31 PM – 1:38 PM | Presentation 4 | Aisha Siebert, MD, PhD | ||||
| 1:38 PM – 1:45 PM | Presentation 5 | Richa Singh, PhD | ||||
| 1:45 PM - 1:52 PM | Presentation 6 | Glenn Werneburg, MD, PhD | ||||
| 1:52 PM - 2:00 PM (8 mins) | Day 2 Closing Remarks | Course Directors: | ||||
| Rosalyn Adam, PhD | ||||||
| Boston Children's Hospital | ||||||
| John Gore, MD, MS | ||||||
| UW Medicine | ||||||
| 3:00 PM | AUA Building Closes | |||||
| Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by 1 R13 DK145251-01 from NIDDK. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. | ||||||
Travel
The Hilton Garden Inn BWI is less than 3 miles from BWI Airport and the Amtrak BWI Rail Station. The hotel offers a 24-hour complimentary shuttle. To request a shuttle, call the hotel at 410-691-0500 upon your arrival at the airport or Amtrak. The Hotel Shuttle Pick-Up Zone is outside the baggage claim area on the Lower-Level Outer Curb near doors 14 – 15.
Taxi/Lyft/Uber are also available at BWI Airport, but this expense will not be reimbursed by AUA. The Taxi stands are located just outside of the baggage claim area on the Lower Level near doors 5 and 13. Lyft/Uber picks up passengers at the terminal curbs on the Upper Level/Departures.
AUA CODE OF CONDUCT AND SAFETY PLAN
All participants must review the below Code of Conduct and Safety Plan. A printed copy will also be provided on-site.
ECIW2025 Faculty
Pre-Workshop Library, Virtual Specific Aims Workshop, and Live Program |
Adam, Rosalyn |
Barbieri, Christopher |
Garg, Tullika |
Gore, John |
Lai, H. Henry |
Lamb, Dolores |
Lee, Richard |
Stewart, LaMonica |
Wolff, Erika |
Zderic, Stephen |
Grant Funding Mechanisms Webinar |
Adam, Rosalyn |
Gore, John |
Mullins, Christopher |
Schwinder, Eric |
Miller, Theresa |
Boulanger-Espeut, Corinne |
McGhee, Nora |
Goss, Kathleen |
Penniston, Kristina |
Research Education, Conference and Communication Committee
RECCC Disclosures 7.22.25.pdf
AUA Staff have nothing to disclose.
Price
REGISTRATION FEES
Workshop participants must pay the registration fee by Friday, August 1, 2025:
- $460 registration fee for AUA members
- $600 registration fee for non-AUA members
Please contact Marielle Marktanner, Research Education Coordinator at [email protected] if you do not receive the member rate as an AUA member.
ATTENDEE INFORMATION & POLICIES
AUA ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY:
AUA Commitment: AUA is committed to providing a safe and productive meeting environment that fosters open dialogue and the exchange of scientific ideas and is free of harassment and discrimination. All meeting participants are expected to behave professionally and treat others with respect, follow venue rules, and alert AUA staff or security of any dangerous situations or anyone in distress.
REPORTING HARASSMENT:
It is the policy of the AUA that all meeting participants will enjoy an environment free from discrimination, harassment or retaliation. Harassing behavior by meeting participants will not be tolerated. If an individual experiences or witnesses harassment, he or she should contact Janet Skorepa, AUA EVP, at [email protected] or Maureen E. Cones, Esq., AUA General Counsel, at [email protected] or use a venue phone and ask for security if he or she feels unsafe. All complaints will be treated seriously and responded to promptly.
The AUA reserves the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including refusing or revoking the registration of any individual, without refund, as long as such refusal is consistent with applicable law and AUA policy.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions and recommendations expressed by faculty, authors and other experts whose input is included in this program are their own and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of the American Urological Association (AUA).
CONSENT TO USE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES:
Registration and attendance at or participation in AUA meetings and other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to AUA's use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee's image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions, and audiotapes of such events and activities.
AUDIO, VIDEO, PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT:
The use of audio, video and other photographic recording equipment by attendees is prohibited inside AUA meeting rooms.
REPRODUCTION PERMISSION:
Reproduction of written materials developed for this AUA course is prohibited without the written permission from individual authors and the AUA.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE/DIETARY NEEDS:
The AUA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act §12112(a). If any participant is in need of special assistance or has any dietary restrictions, a written request should be submitted at least one month in advance. For additional assistance with your request please call 1-800-908-9414.
Required Hardware/software
Laptop or tablet with Wi-Fi capabilities
Charger