# Duke KURe Program

> **NIH NIH K12** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $763,622

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Duke’s KURe program provides structured mentoring, customized research training, and individualized career
development for postdoctoral fellows and early career faculty with a doctoral level degree, who are committed
to an independent research career in benign urology. Over the past nine years, we have supported 13 KURe
Scholars including three from groups underrepresented in medicine. When transitioning to independence, 57%
of our scholars obtained individual K awards (K01, K08, K23), and 100% received major foundation or federal
funding. We request competitive renewal of the Program, which has four major goals: 1) Foster diversity by
recruiting Scholars from diverse backgrounds and by providing a supportive and inclusive environment; 2)
Train the next generation of benign urology researchers by fostering multidisciplinary research; 3) Address
gaps in scientific knowledge by strengthening inter- and cross-disciplinary collaborations within the broader
benign urology research community through active participation in Collaborating for the Advancement of
Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (CAIRIBU); and 4) Prepare KURe Scholars to lead their own
multidisciplinary research teams and become the mentors and leaders of tomorrow.
 At any one time, we support up to 4 KURe Scholars who are guided by 2 mentors from our robust group of
KURe core mentors. The KURe mentors have significant expertise in 5 main areas of benign urology: 1) Lower
Urinary Tract Dysfunction 2) Urinary Tract Infection/Inflammation 3) Pediatric Urology 4) Stone Disease and
5) Reconstructive Urology/Regenerative Medicine and Neurourology. In addition, our mentors employ different
approaches and can guide our Scholars using 1) Basic/Translational Research 2) Clinical Research 3) Health
Services Research and 4) Systems Biology. Scholars are appointed for one year and can be renewed annually
for up to 4 years. Scholars receive one-on-one Executive/Leadership Coaching. Their Individual Development
Plans include intense hands-on research, structured mentoring, and courses/activities that increase 5 core
competencies (Responsible Conduct of Research, Scientific Writing, Experimental Design/Methods, Data
Management/Statistics, and Leadership). At completion of the program, Scholars are expected to have
published in peer-reviewed journals and have obtained independent funding. Scholars’ progress is monitored
by the PD/PI and the Advisory Committee (AC). Program improvements are made based on feedback from
mentors and Scholars, recommendations by the AC, and results from an independent external mixed methods
longitudinal evaluation. The annual Duke KURe Multidisciplinary Benign Urology Research Symposium attracts
national attendees. Scholars present their research and connect with experts. Duke KURe is a successful,
vibrant program with expert mentors, experienced leadership, and the institutional commitment to ensure that a
diverse pool of well-trained rese...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10891707
- **Project number:** 5K12DK100024-12
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Cindy Amundsen
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $763,622
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-08-01 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10891707

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10891707, Duke KURe Program (5K12DK100024-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10891707. Licensed CC0.

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