KURe – K12 Institutional Career Development Program

Multidisciplinary K12 Urologic Research Career Development Program

Funding opportunity for Duke junior faculty, fellows and postdocs with doctoral degrees

KURe Renewal Awarded!

Cindy L. Amundsen, MD, Principal Investigator and Director of the KURe Multidisciplinary Urologic Research Career Development Program, and program specialists Friederike Jayes, DVM, PhD, and Rebecca Kameny, PhD, have been awarded $3.8 million over five years by NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). This renewal award will lead to 15 years of continued funding which has thus far supported 14 early career researchers. The program’s strengths are a commitment to multidisciplinary clinical, translational, and basic research, structured mentoring relationships, and a focus on individualized career development. Success is facilitated through strong institutional support, experienced leadership, and highly skilled, dedicated mentors. 

About the KURe Program

The KURe recruits talented clinical, translational and basic science researchers (MD, DO, PhD,  MD/PhD) from diverse disciplines who are interested in building an independent research career using collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches to benign urological research questions. Junior faculty, fellows and postdocs from any department and interested in research applicable to benign urology may apply to the KURe program. For additional information, contact friederike.jayes@duke.edu or cindy.amundsen@duke.edu.

The KURe Program is a part of CAIRIBU, funded through NIDDK. CAIRIBU’s K12, P20, and U54 centers and programs are united around the overall objectives of improving understanding of the mechanisms of urogenital diseases and developing clinical therapies for treating them. Duke's KURe Program is a K12 Institutional Career Development Grant that provides scholars with career development training and support to develop the skills necessary to become outstanding independent investigators able to lead multidisciplinary research teams. Scholars receive salary support up to $100,000 per year for 75% of full professional effort (50% -75% if a surgical specialty). Research and Career Development Support up to $40,000 per year will be provided for research supplies, equipment and technical personnel; tuition and fees related to didactic courses or career development; and travel to research meetings. Scholars are expected to publish and apply for independent grant funding by year three. Maximum support is for five years.

Applications, Eligibility, and Letter of Intent

Scholars should have no more than five years of postdoctoral research experience and not more than ten years should have elapsed since receiving the terminal doctoral degree. Mid-career and senior faculty are not eligible. Scholars must be a US citizen or have a valid green card. Applicants from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, or from a disadvantaged background as defined by NIH’s NOT-OD-20-031, are encouraged to apply.

Research areas supported by this initiative must be related to the mission of the NIDDK. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Basic research such as cell and molecular biology, genomics and proteomics, biochemistry, physiology, developmental biology, tissue engineering, immunology, pathology, neurobiology and microbiology
• Clinical sciences such as urology, infectious disease, gastroenterology, gynecology, endocrinology, anesthesiology, neurology, gerontology and radiology
• Epidemiology or biostatistics
• Physical sciences such as physics, bioengineering, chemical and mechanical engineering

Letter of Intent

A Letter of Intent may be sent when there is no open call for applications. Submission of the LOI begins the process and a discussion of your career goals, proposed project, mentor selection, and eligibility with the Program Director. We will contact you to let you know if you are eligible to apply. The LOI should be emailed to the Program Director: Cindy Amundsen, MD at cindy.amundsen@duke.edu and Program Coordinator: Friederike Jayes at friederike.jayes@duke.edu.

The letter of intent should include the following information:

1. Applicant’s full name
2. Degree(s) and date(s) awarded (If MD with residency, then also include when you finished residency/fellowship)
3. Department, Division, School
4. Academic rank and position
5. NIH Biosketch
6. Project Title
7. Brief description of the planned project (no more than one page)
8. Brief description of professional development goals (no more than one page)
9. Proposed mentor(s), at least one of whom is from the list of approved mentors

Who We Are

Program Contacts, Leadership, and Staff

Principal Investigator and Program Director
Cindy Amundsen, MD
Scholars@Duke Bio

Program Coordinator
Friederike Jayes, DVM, PhD
Scholars@Duke Bio

Career Development Program Specialist
Rebecca Kameny, PhD
Scholars@Duke Bio