KUH-ART: Advanced Research Training in Kidney disease, Urology and Hematology

Overall Abstract Under a multi-PI leadership with an established track record of scientific and mentorship collaboration, we propose a comprehensive Los Angeles metropolitan area-based interdisciplinary graduate and postgraduate training program (KUH-Advanced Research Training or KUH-ART). The overarching objective of this program

is to prepare trainees for long-term productive careers in high-impact research in benign nephrology, urology and hematology. To achieve this goal, we will: 1) Recruit outstanding and diverse pre- and postdoctoral students. We will reach out through multiple media and programs to students and trainees at all levels, nationwide, and through fellowship matching

programs in the KUH area, highlighting the attractive opportunities in the KUH-ART research space 2) Develop and support a personalized guidance program, matching interested trainees with research mentors and labs. We will provide (a) easy-to-access general mentoring support and trainee advocacy, (b)

career guidance and general research career skills (manuscript and grant preparation, collaboration, scientific communication, and networking) through partnerships with existing programs under UCLA-CTSI, and (c) trainee exposure to the array of available research careers from academia to biotechnology and pharma.

3) Incentivize the development and support of specific educational research-oriented KUH content for KUH trainees at all levels, leveraging existing seminar series, courses and conferences. We will construct and evolve a virtual learning environment (VLE) that facilitates formal and informal interactions

among our trainees, with mentors, and with trainees at other similar programs. We will develop new instructional content specific to the needs of our trainees. We will facilitate the participation of KUH trainees in broader scholarly communities according to their level of training (MSTP, graduate student lecture series

and seminars, CTSI KL2 courses), and introduce KUH content into these activities. 4) Measure and evaluate quality and outcomes to assess program effectiveness. Guided by our external and internal advisory boards, we will use the evaluation process for continuous quality improvement in curricular offerings, the learning environment, and trainee outcomes.

KUH-ART will benefit from strong institutional support that will allow us to integrate existing resources and consolidate productive interinstitutional relationships. The geographic footprint and infrastructure of KUH-ART will build on the highly successful UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute, a research partnership of

leading local institutions: UCLA, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center/Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation. Successful implementation of KUH-ART will assure that diverse and talented biomedical trainees in the Los Angeles

metropolitan area are recruited and optimally trained to contribute to solving important problems in the KUH area.