This application requests support for the Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR) 2020 Annual Meeting entitled, ?CELLULAR INTERACTIONS AND IDENTITIES IN UROLOGIC BIOLOGY? which will be held on November 12-15, 2020 at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, TX. This conference has been held annually since 1992 and provides a unique environment to learn about the most recent advances in basic, translational and preclinical urologic research, in addition to providing a dynamic forum for discussing how these advances could be implemented for the prevention and treatment of urological diseases. Much has been learned over the last decade regarding the molecular determinants and key pathways that regulate normal and disease processes, and a wide variety of novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies have emerged as a result. Thus, this year?s meeting will focus on a few areas that are emerging as the cutting-edge advances in urology, including: 1) New Models and Technologies for Studying Urologic Biology; 2) Cancer Cell Biology and Communication; 3) Genes and Development in Urologic Health and Disease; 4) Advances in Urologic Pathologies by NIDDK Urology Centers and Training Programs; 5) Cellular Identity and Lineage Plasticity; 6) Emerging Cellular Targets and Therapies for Urologic Pathologies. The support from this application will be used to provide 20 travel awards as well as child care services to support disadvantaged, poorly represented and/or junior investigators who submit research abstracts and wish to participate in the meeting, but who otherwise might not be able to attend. In addition to highlighting recent advances and identifying key knowledge gaps, the primary goals of the conference are to: 1) Discuss recent advances in studying the cellular basis of urologic diseases with emphasis on bioengineering, organoid technology, novel animal models, cell-cell communication, immunology, genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolism, immunology, and therapeutics; 2) Identify critical knowledge gaps and stimulate approaches to address them; 3) Attract leading scientists from diverse fields in malignant and benign urology; 4) Promote interactions between basic, translational and clinical research scientists of diverse backgrounds and facilitate cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration; 5) Foster the active participation of women, minorities, the disabled, and early career investigators by providing them opportunities to present and discuss cutting-edge science and enhancing their integration into the field; and 6) Disseminate and facilitate novel discoveries in urologic diseases. An attendance of at least 250 is expected, and we will recruit a large variety of clinician, physician-scientist, and basic researcher attendees, with special emphasis on early-career investigators and groups typically underrepresented in urologic research. Finally, a robust plan is in place for publicizing the conference and the support, if awarded, by NIDDK and NCI.
The Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR) 2020 Annual Meeting will create a unique opportunity to highlight the latest advances in understanding the biology and therapy of urologic diseases; identify knowledge gaps and new research opportunities; and build collaborations to integrate basic and translational research across the growing sub-disciplinary interests in Urology. Anticipated attendance will include established basic and clinical researchers, junior investigators, PhD and medical students, postdoctoral fellows and medical residents from diverse areas of Urology. Given this breadth of diversity, this meeting will stimulate new thinking, break down barriers, and catalyze the field.
