The Duke K12 Urologic Research Career Development Program hosted its 11th Annual Multidisciplinary Benign Urology Research Symposium on April 17th, 2026. Under the leadership of Drs. Cindy Amundsen, Friederike Jayes, and Rebecca Kameny, the Duke KURe program recruits talented clinical, translational and basic science researchers from diverse disciplines who are interested in building an independent research career using collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches to benign urological research questions.

Each year, they host a symposium to highlight research in benign urology. This year’s symposium centered around themes of urogenital pain and obesity effects on urogenital conditions and featured CAIRIBU-affiliated speakers and moderators such as Quentin Clemens, MD (PI, University of Michigan KUroEpi Program), Jennifer Hammel, PhD (K12 Scholar, Duke University), Natasha Wilkins, PhD (K12 Scholar, Duke University), Grant West, PhD (K12 Scholar, Duke University), Jim Hokanson, PhD (K12 Alum, Duke University) and Michael Odom, PhD (K12 Alum, Duke University).

Several trainees were awarded CAIRIBU Interactions Core Travel Awards to attend this meeting. The purpose of these awards is to encourage participation by trainees and early-stage investigators in conferences, educational meetings, workshops, and other events hosted by Urology Centers and K12 Career Development Programs within the CAIRIBU Community by offering funds to cover travel-related expenses. Pictured above, from left to right:

1. Kristina Penniston, PhD, RDN, PI of the CAIRIBU Interactions Core
2. Firoj Alom, DVM, PhD, MS, Medical College of Wisconsin
3. Naomi Carter, Virginia Commonwealth University
4. Samantha Benevides, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University
5. Nyemkuna Fortingo, MD, Virgina Commonwealth University
6. Fernando Pereira Beserra, PhD, University of Colorado
7. Vandanaa Jayaprakash, Virigina Commonwealth University
8. Tamryn Jordan, University of Wisconsin-Madison
9. Hannah Ruetten, DVM, PhD, Wake Forest University
10. Anna Miller, Virginia Commonwealth University
11. Sydney Smith, Virginia Commonwealth University
12. Brendyn Miller, PhD, Wake Forest University
13. Stephanie Sirmakesyan, MS, McGill University

Congratulations to the awardees! With support from CAIRIBU Interactions Core Travel Awards, emerging researchers engaged with leaders in the field, highlighting the importance of collaboration and innovation in advancing benign urological research.