There is a great need for high-level evidence to support the medical and surgical management of kidney stone disease. Engaging patients and other key stakeholders in the identification and prioritization of important questions in kidney stone disease will ensure future trials are focused on outcomes that matter most to patients. Additionally, by creating an engaged and primed network of patients and caregivers, partnerships will develop to optimize trial design and implement pragmatic, patient-centered research. Join Drs. Ellison and Tasian to discuss the initiative for an expansive and comprehensive Patient-prioritized Research Agenda for Comparative Trials in Children and Adults over the Lifespan (PRACTICAL) of kidney stones.

Over the past 3 years, I have worked with NIDDK Program Officers to create a collaborative community of investigators and clinicians who study benign genitourinary disease. This community is known as CAIRIBU – Collaborating for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology – and consists of U54 Urology O’Brien Centers, P20 Exploratory Centers for Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology, and the K12 Career Development Programs focused on urology [i.e., the Multidisciplinary Urologic Research (KURe) and Urological Epidemiology Institutional Research (KUroEpi) programs]. This initiative was formalized last year when I was awarded a grant under the NIDDK U24 mechanism (U24-DK-127726) to form and lead an “interactions core” for CAIRIBU to promote cross-disciplinary dialogue, resource sharing, and collaboration. Currently, different groups of CAIRIBU investigators and trainees from a broad range of disciplines and perspectives study congenital GU diseases, urolithiasis, ureteral disorders, benign prostate and bladder diseases, male reproductive disorders, and infectious disease in the urinary tract. Join me to share your thoughts on how to advance urolithiasis research by identifying critical current knowledge gaps that could be addressed by forming new interdisciplinary research collaborations.

Lerner Research Institute, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic A considerable body of research has recently focused on the role of the microbiome in the onset of urolithiasis, which has led to some important discoveries. However, important questions remain that impact the interpretation of results. This breakout session will focus on what is known about the role of the microbiome in urolithiasis, current technical limitations, and efforts to standardize microbiome research to address pertinent, outstanding questions in the field. Join Drs. Lange and Miller to discuss: (1) the role of antibiotic use prior to the onset of urolithiasis; (2) gut vs. urinary tract microbiome; (3) geographic differences in microbiome composition and technical vs. biological factors that contribute; (4) efforts to standardize microbiome research to minimize bias; and (5) current efforts to address the environmental factors that impact the microbiome in ways that influence urolithiasis.