New York Consortium for Interdisciplinary Training in Kidney, Urological and Hematological Research (NYC Train KUHR) - Abstract Traditional training in kidney, urologic or hematologic (KUH) research equips the basic, translational and clinical investigator with specific knowledge and technical skills that are particular to each of these individual disciplines. During their careers, however, investigators can find it challenging to cross boundaries between their specific areas of expertise to address important questions in overlapping KUH disciplines. These “leaps” have to be encouraged and taught, as it is through these interdisciplinary interactions and collaborations that we will advance KUH research and achieve the scientific discoveries needed to improve the care and quality of life of people with KUH diseases. The training program that we propose in this U2C/TL1 application aims to prepare the next generation of KUH investigators with the interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and mindset that will allow them to naturally engage and seek interdisciplinary collaborations. To achieve this goal, we will harness the experience and excellence in research and training of four of the leading medical schools in the New York City (NYC) metropolitan region, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, to establish the “New York Consortium for Interdisciplinary Training in Kidney, Urological and Hematological Research” (NYC Train KUHR)” (pronounced “NYC Train cure”). The Training Core will be developed around the strong supporting system provided by the other NYC Train KUHR Cores: the Networking Core, the Professional Development Core and the Administrative Core. The Training Core will promote interdisciplinary thinking and support development of technical skills to facilitate engagement in collaborations and team science. The proposed program builds on our experience from three existing, successful nephrology T32 grants, an R25 grant, a T35 grant and an NIH O’Brien Center in Urology. It also builds on the combined research and training strengths of over 100 preceptors from across the four institutions that bring to the program their expertise in KUH research and complementary areas, including genomics, developmental biology, epidemiology, neuroscience, bioengineering and clinical trials across the lifespan. At its full capacity, the program will train 9 pre-doctoral and 16 post-doctoral fellows across the four institutions. The training program will use independent development plans and thesis and scholarship oversight committees to individualize trainee experiences. Emphasis will be placed on experiential mentored research experiences as well as professional development activities to prepare the trainees for a research career in academic medicine. The knowledge and skills learned from this training program and the other educational and professional development activities promoted by the NYC Train KUHR will allow this new cadre of investigators to work across different disciplines to develop novel concepts to advance KUH research.
