# The Network Core for The San Diego Regional Network Award for Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Research Training

> **NIH NIH U2C** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2024 · $76,939

## Abstract

NETWORK CORE – PROJECT SUMMARY
 We request support for a Network Core as a component of an adjoined U2C/TL1 to support kidney, urology,
and hematology research in the San Diego area. The Network Core is led by 3 MPIs, each representing a lead
from 3 outstanding research institutions in the area, UC San Diego (UCSD), The Scripps Research Institute
(TSRI), and San Diego State University (SDSU), and is designed to develop a vibrant, “research home” for
investigators working in and training in KUH research from across the region and across all career stages.
 The Network will support an extensive collection of meetings and symposia, many offered both in-person to
foster community, and virtually to facilitate ease of access across the region. These include weekly work-in-
progress meetings, quarterly KUH grand rounds, and annual symposia. We have designed the Network to
support efforts to facilitate collaboration across KUH mission areas throughout all aspects of the Network. This
includes a U2C funded KUH Cross-Pollination Pilot Grant program where faculty and scholars from different
KUH disciplines collectively conduct projects, U2C funded short-term grants for high school and undergraduate
students to engage in KUH research to prime the pipeline for future years. The Network is also designed to
heavily engage communities and potential scholars from URM backgrounds, partnering with local high schools
with high proportion URM students, and with SDSU where nearly 30% of students are from URM backgrounds.
Finally, the Network supports a vibrant and successful “One-Step-Ahead” mentorship program, where near
peer mentors are engaged to support current scholars. All these resources are bolstered by the already
available conferences and symposia of the home departments, and the outstanding scientific environment
available in San Diego. All of these resources will enrich the KUH research environment for future scientists,
current TL1 scholars, and established research faculty alike.
 With highly successful and engaged TL1 faculty, pilot grants to foster collaboration across KUH disciplines,
and to drive young scientists into KUH research careers, a vibrant “research home”, this Network Core is
positioned to support the outstanding scientists in KUH research topics and TL1 scholars, and supply the
workforce with innovative, committed scientists making groundbreaking discoveries in KUH throughout their
careers. The Network Core will deliver Aim 3 of the overall U2C/TL1, “To cultivate a vibrant, integrated,
collaborative environment in the greater San Diego area across the career stage continuum to develop the
next generation of highly impactful kidney, urologic, and hematologic researchers.”

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10986919
- **Project number:** 1U2CDK136780-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Dena Evette Rifkin
- **Activity code:** U2C (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $76,939
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10986919

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10986919, The Network Core for The San Diego Regional Network Award for Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Research Training (1U2CDK136780-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10986919. Licensed CC0.

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