Researchers at UTHealth Houston, in partnership with several Texas Medical Center institutions, have launched the Houston Area Incubator for Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Research Training. This program, supported by a $6.25 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over five years, is designed to enhance the development of future scientists in these medical fields.
The initiative addresses significant health concerns in Houston, where kidney disease, hypertension, sickle cell disease, and other nonmalignant hematologic conditions are prevalent. By assembling 58 investigators from institutions including UTHealth Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, University of Houston, Houston Methodist, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rice University, and Texas A&M University Institute of Biosciences and Technology, the program seeks to utilize local biomedical research resources to prepare students and trainees for careers in this area.
“This new award provides unique collaborative training experiences that extend beyond the outstanding kidney, urology, and hematology research going on in the Texas Medical Center,” said Peter Doris, PhD, principal investigator of the program, professor, and director in the Center for Human Genetics at The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “In conceiving this award, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases envisioned trainee development across the full spectrum of skills required for professional success.”
The training program will also focus on professional development and research networking. Training will start locally and later include opportunities hosted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Each year, six predoctoral and six postdoctoral trainees will be chosen through a competitive selection process to receive comprehensive training in scientific research, professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The program’s co-principal investigators are Alison Bertuch, MD, PhD, and Margaret Goodell, PhD, from Baylor College of Medicine. Core leads from UTHealth Houston include Rachel Miller, PhD; Pamela Wenzel, PhD; and Oleh Pochynyuk, PhD. Chester Koh, MD, and Rayne Rouce, MD from Baylor College of Medicine also serve as core leads.
The initiative is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U2CDK143942 and TL1DK147564) with the goal to encourage innovation across institutions while preparing new researchers to contribute to science and patient care.
