Jim Hokanson, PhD, prior K12 scholar in the Duke KURe program, and Kim Keil Stietz, PhD, Biomed Core Co-Director of the CAIRIBU Urology O’Brien Center, were both recently awarded CAIRIBU Interactions Core Collaboration Awards. Dr. Hokanson’s project is titled “Neuroanatomical basis for tibial neuromodulation.” Dr. Keil Stietz’s project is titled “Genetic origin of incontinence linked to Shh signaling.” Their projects began on August 1st, 2024 and will continue until July 31st, 2025.
CAIRIBU Collaboration Awards support short-term, novel, high-risk, non-malignant urologic research. The awards support proposals that engage early-stage investigators or those new to urology research, establish new collaborations and consist of highly interdisciplinary research teams.
Dr. Hokanson completed his PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh where he studied how to provide artificial somatosensory feedback to amputees via electrical stimulation of the peripheral nervous system. He is currently an assistant professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University.
Dr. Keil Stietz completed her PhD in Comparative Biosciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her lab is focused on understanding the impact of the environment on the establishment and regulation of urinary function. In particular, they are focused on developmental exposure to environmental contaminants. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Comparative Biosciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Their future work as CAIRIBU Collaboration Award winners will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding benign urologic conditions. Their research will build new and valuable connections that will carry them throughout their careers.
Congratulations to Dr. Hokanson and Dr. Keil Stietz!