Urologic Research

Catalog Description:  Students have options to participate in either clinically oriented or laboratory based research in the Urology Department. The clinically oriented research focuses primarily on outcomes research using institutional or federal administrative databases. Students partner with a faculty member with interests in oncology, kidney stone disease or reconstructive urology. They work with the faculty members to develop a research question or hypothesis and pursue original research or, in some cases, join the team on a work in progress. They are taught how to ask important questions that are answerable with the available data. They may personally perform chart reviews to abstract data if a novel question is being asked or may have access to already established datasets including in-house databases focused on prostate cancer, urethral stricture and neurogenic bladder or federal databases such as Medicare, SEER and the National Inpatient Sample. Departmental infrastructure exists for statistical data analysis. The student will then work with the faculty member to interpret the results and learn how to organize a manuscript.

The laboratory experience is a full-time laboratory course in which the student will learn the basic techniques of molecular and cell biology as they apply to urologic research. The main thrust of urologic research in this department is currently reproductive biology, but these techniques are applicable to virtually any field of medical research. Basic techniques of protein purification for amino acid composition and sequencing, electrophoresis, Western blots, immunocytochemistry, and tissue culture will be used in a well-defined project. The mechanics of working in a lab and research methodology will be learned. Basic techniques of nucleic acid analysis, such as Northern and Southern blotting, cDNA cloning and manipulation and PCR will be learned. Basic protein analysis techniques, such as SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and ELISA will also be learned. The student may also learn cell culture techniques. Research methodology and problem solving will be stressed in all aspects of the course.

Syllabus

Sites:  

Required session attendance: Does not apply

Typical weekly schedule/Delivery Mode:  Dependent on the project

Direct patient care:  No

Consent Requirement: Arranged. Email Course Coordinator for details and approval to schedule.

Grading Scale:  H/E/S/N

Allow repetition of course: Repetition allowed up to 2 times

Course equivalency:  Does not apply