Urology
Urology Residency Training Program
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Basic Research
The major areas of basic investigation for our department are cancers of the bladder, kidney, and prostate, interstitial cystitis, infertility, and urinary stone disease. The department currently has ten independent National Institutes of Health (NIH) or Department of Defense research grants and works closely with researchers in several other departments on another twelve peer reviewed grants in urology related areas. A major focus involves the role of the androgen receptor in malignant and benign diseases of the prostate, but investigative areas range from the origins of metabolic stone disease to molecular carcinogenesis of renal cancer to the origins and clinical care of interstitial cystitis. Projects involve transgenic knockouts and other animal models to study stone disease, interstitial cystitis, infertility, and bladder and prostate cancers.
Our Research Facilities
Two research laboratories (consisting of 2,800 square feet) provide facilities for cell culture used for carcinogenesis and molecular studies, as well as a microsurgical facility used for animal models of metabolic stone disease and potency. The department has fully equipped molecular biology, radio immunoassay, and immunohistochemical facilities. The department also has the largest tissue bank in the medical center.
Clinical Research Studies
In addition to basic research, we are also doing several more clinically oriented studies. The University of Rochester Medical Center is a Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) participant. Additionally, the department is involved with several NCI-sponsored clinical trials. These studies involve means to prevent, detect, and treat bladder, renal, and prostate cancers; microwave therapy for BPH and interstitial cystitis; testing of new devices and agents for treatment of urinary incontinence and interstitial cystitis. A collaborative effort with Behavioral Medicine and Community and Preventive Medicine involves a variety of studies associated with the physical and psychologic stresses engendered by the diagnosis of prostate and bladder cancer. In collaboration with the Department of Radiation Oncology and researchers at the University of Singapore, a robot is being developed to implant radioactive seeds into the prostate for brachytherapy. Additionally, the department is actively involved in developing and testing adult and pediatric laparoscopic instruments. Other recent and ongoing pediatric research includes being the central site for testing coaptite injection therapy for vesico-ureteral reflux, defining the most cost effective paradigms in the evaluation of surgically correctable causes of urinary tract infections, and determining expectations of families and primary care physicians for patients with enuresis.
Additionally, the department is actively involved in developing and testing adult and pediatric laparoscopic instruments. Other ongoing pediatric research includes being the central site for testing coaptite injection therapy for vesico-ureteral reflux, defining the most cost effective paradigms in the evaluation of surgically correctable causes of urinary tract infections, and determining expectations of families and primary care physicians for patients with enuresis.
Education Research
As a University and a few individuals, we are members of the Association for Surgical Education. Recent and ongoing studies in the Department include participation in a national web-based student Urology learning initiative, and a project investigating the barriers to learning the male genital and rectal exams.
Collaborative Efforts
The research program also works in collaboration with several groups within the University of Rochester (see above), as well as these in Baltimore, MD, Charlottesville, VA, Jackson, MS, Chicago, IL, Lund, Sweden, Madison, WI, San Diego, CA, Quebec City, Canada, and Singapore. Collaboration often is a prerequisite for competitive research efforts.
Our Faculty
The research laboratory has two full-time technicians, a M.D./Ph.D. (Molecular Biology) urologist, as well as PGY-4 residents, three postdoctoral students, and two Ph.D. investigators on the full-time faculty.