The CAIRIBU Collaboration Award supports short-term, novel, high-risk, non- malignant urologic research. The April application deadline saw a record number of applications. Based on reviewers’ comments and NIDDK Program Officers’ review, 3 awards were offered. Each award provides up to $120,000 total costs for one year.

The 2026 recipients are:

1) Nicole Gilbert, PhD – Microbiome mediated regulation of the urothelial barrier

Dr. Gilbert is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Molecular Microbiology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research uses in vivo and in vitro model systems in parallel with analyses of clinical specimens to specify the mechanisms underlying known associations between certain vaginal microbiome states and infectious diseases such as UTI and HPV-associated cancer, as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes.

2) Zohreh Izadifar, PhD – Unveiling the role of the urobiome in bladder health and disease using primary human bladder chip

Dr. Izadifar is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. Her laboratory takes a multidisciplinary approach – integrating advanced engineering, cell biology, biofabrication, biomaterials, and life sciences – to recreate the structural and functional properties of human urogenital and reproductive tissues in vitro.

3) Alexis Dieter, MD – Rapid fluorescence-based diagnostic testing for urinary tract infection in postmenopausal women

Dr. Dieter is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Urology at Georgetown University School of Medicine and is a board-certified urogynecologist at MedStar Health. Her research interests include overactive bladder syndrome, pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, and how to optimize surgical outcomes and the patient perioperative experience.

Congratulations, awardees!