# Administrative Core:  Cellular and molecular mediators of fibrosis in the development of urinary tract dysfunction

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $335,671

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY - ADMINISTRATIVE CORE
The Administrative Core (Core A), has an overall mission to coordinate and successfully manage the UW-
Madison O’Brien Research Center including UM-Boston and UT-Southwestern and lead benign urology research
into the future. The overarching goal of the O’Brien Center for Benign Urology Research is to identify
mechanisms that result in lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) that result in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Criteria for successful completion are defined by the RFA 18-029
and include performing and disseminating outstanding benign urologic research, provide highly needed
resources for the field, and provide outstanding educational enrichment while promoting the next generation of
benign urology researchers. The Center targets new and exciting mechanisms of LUTD namely prostate fibrosis
and translates it to clinically relevant therapeutics and biomarkers for patient stratification. BPH/LUTS can be
life-threatening, affect quality of life, and is a costly disease, which NIDDK wants eradicate. Core A will achieve
these goals by providing outstanding leadership, vision, and efficiency in the overarching administrative duties.
The organization structure and leadership of Core A includes two outstanding investigators with recognized and
complementary abilities in leading research groups and training programs. Dr. Ricke continues to serve as Core
A director and will assume primary responsibility for day to day management and oversight of Core A. He will
also be responsible for obtaining and managing the Opportunity Pool and maintain extensive interactions within
the biomedical community. Dr. Vezina will serve as Associate Director for Core A and will direct the Educational
Enrichment Program. Core A will interact with members of its external advisory board (EAB) and internal advisory
board (IAB) on a semi-annual basis. All members or associated members of the center will be invited to partake
in center functions including seminars, retreats, business meetings, and other special events. Drs. Ricke and
Vezina meet with the NIDDK Executive Steering committee (ESC) and External Expert Panel (EEP) at NIDDK’s
annual reverse site visit (see letter of reference Mark Nelson, PhD, ESC Chair). Their leadership and experience
will allow us to promote interactions between our Center Projects, Core B, as well as other centers (U54, P20,
K12) through: communication, collaboration, and coordination. Further interactions and data dissemination will
occur in conjunction with the NIDDK’s O’Brien Center Interaction core, NIDDK program officials, American
Urological Association Office of Research, scientific societies, and other venues. As directed by NIDDK, the
benign urology research community has a viable focal point--The O’Brien Centers--in which to centralize ideas,
research, resources, training, provide consensus, and offer a unified voice. The O’Brien Centers are more tha...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10022315
- **Project number:** 5U54DK104310-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** WILLIAM A RICKE
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $335,671
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-09-24 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10022315

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10022315, Administrative Core:  Cellular and molecular mediators of fibrosis in the development of urinary tract dysfunction (5U54DK104310-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10022315. Licensed CC0.

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