Society for Basic Urologic Research 2021 Annual Meeting: Molecular Mechanisms of Urological Diseases and Treatment Resistance

This application requests support for the Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR) 2021 Annual Meeting entitled, “Molecular Mechanisms of Urological Diseases and Treatment Resistance”, which will be held on November 4-7, 2021 at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, Orlando, FL. 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) Emerging Technologies and Models for Urological Research; 2) Endocrine and Genetic regulations in Urological Research; 3) Epigenetic Regulations of Urological Development and Diseases; 4) Infection, Inflammation, and Immune Response in Urological Biology; 5) Biomarkers, Environmental Factors, and Health Disparities in Urological Diseases; 6) Urological Stem cells, Lineage Plasticity, and Treatment Resistance. The support from this application will be used to provide 24 Travel Awards and 4 Minority Scholar Awards to disadvantaged, poorly represented trainees, and junior to mid-career investigators to defray travel costs, with the intention of providing much-needed encouragement and promotion to a career in urologic research and of enhancing the diversity of conference attendees. In addition to highlighting recent advances and identifying key knowledge gaps, the primary goals of the conference are: 1) Discuss recent advances in studying the molecular mechanisms of urologic development and diseases using contemporary technologies, with emphasis on novel methodologies and tools, genetics, epigenetics, infection, inflammation and immune response, environmental factors and health disparity, and stem cells and lineage plasticity; 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 NCI and NIDDK.