The Leadership in Education, Achievement and Diversity (LEAD) Program is a new initiative designed to support urology residents from racial and ethnic backgrounds underrepresented in urologic research. The LEAD Program will provide comprehensive research support to young urologists by creating a development pathway through existing AUA research programs, beginning with the Residency Research Award program. Three residents per year will be selected to conduct mentored research training, engage in AUA research education opportunities and be championed through networking events as they develop successful research careers and improve urology patient care.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the LEAD Program:

LEAD Program participants will be selected through the annual Urology Care Foundation Residency Research Award competition. Residency Research Award proposals are evaluated by a peer review panel of expert physician scientists and researchers who assess the quality of the proposed project as well as the applicant’s potential to become a future leader in the field.

The LEAD Program begins support for urology residents with the Residency Research Award program. Three residents per year will be selected to conduct mentored research training and will be provided a stipend to conduct a 3-12 month project. Research focused on bladder dysfunction and men’s health will be prioritized for funding initially, but topics will expand over time. The application process will open October 2021.

LEAD Program participants will receive two years of mentorship through the Urology Scientific Mentoring and Research Training (USMART) Academy. This program fosters creative and impactful mentorship by pairing experienced, highly-accomplished physician-scientists and researchers with early-career investigators to provide scientific and career guidance. Now entering its fourth year, and guided by an advisory group of highly accomplished scientists with strong mentoring credentials of their own, this program has already seen measurable success by way of career advancement and successful conflict management, scientific accomplishments, and new research funding.

The LEAD Program will enable its urology residents to participate in the highly-successful Early-Career Investigators Workshop (ECIW) once during their residency and once during the research year of their clinical fellowship. The ECIW is held annually to support career development in urologic research by providing participants with a solid foundation for successful grant writing. Activities include one-on-one and small-group mentoring sessions with scientific advisors, learning how to navigate federally-funded grant programs, opportunities to directly interact with funding agency representatives, mock peer review, and guidance on developing a fundable research program.

LEAD Program participants will have access to the Urology Care Foundation Scientific Travel Support Program during their Residency Research Award period. This program helps cover registration, travel, and child care costs for participants to present their work at the AUA Annual Meeting and other scientific conferences throughout the year.

LEAD Program participants will be invited to the Urology Care Foundation Research Honors Program and Reception, before and after their research projects have been conducted, to present their work as well as network with the AUA and Urology Care Foundation Boards of Directors and other urologic research leaders. This event is held every year during the AUA Annual Meeting to recognize the achievements of Urology Care Foundation-funded investigators who are completing their research projects, acknowledge the newest research awardees, and present special “Awards of Distinction” to individuals who have made major contributions to the field of urologic research.