BALTIMORE, Sept. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The American Urological Association (AUA) and the Urology Care Foundation–the official foundation of the AUA–announced today A. Lenore Ackerman, MD, PhD as the recipient of the 2021 Rising Stars in Urology Research Award. Dr. Ackerman is Assistant Professor of Urology and Director of Research, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The Rising Stars in Urology Research Award program was established in 2005 to encourage recipients to contribute to urology as both surgical specialists and scientists investigating causes, prevention, treatment and cures that will improve patients', lives. The award program provides up to five years of supplemental salary support up to $200,000 to urologists who have successfully competed for career development awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other major funding organizations.

"For more than 15 years, the Urology Care Foundation has supported the careers of talented surgeon scientists allowing them to successfully transition to independent investigators and establish their research careers through the Rising Stars in Urology Research Award," said Steven Kaplan, MD, AUA Research Chair. "Dr. Ackerman is an ideal candidate for this award. We are excited to see the outcomes of her research."

Focusing on the roles urinary microbes (the "urobiome") play in the lower urinary tract, Dr. Ackerman will examine urinary bacterial and fungal communities in different types of voiding dysfunction to identify patterns in the urobiome associated with specific lower urinary tract symptoms. Her studies will include an exploration of the co-occurring patterns of urinary inflammation, as well as an investigation of human genes that may confer an increased risk of disease. It will also help to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying different forms of voiding dysfunction to aid in the future development of new management and therapeutic approaches. She is mentored by David M. Underhill, PhD and Jennifer T. Anger, MD, MPH.

Dr. Ackerman earned her PhD in immunology and MD at Yale University. She completed her residency in urology and fellowship in pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles.

For more information on the 2021 Rising Stars in Urology Research Award, visit: https://www.auanet.org/research/research-funding/aua-funding/rising-stars-in-urology-research-awards

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near  Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has more than 23,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

About the Urology Care Foundation: The Urology Care Foundation is the world's leading nonprofit urological health foundation, and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. Partnering with physicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, families and the public, the Foundation supports and improves urologic clinical care by funding research, developing patient education and pursuing philanthropic support. To learn more about the Urology Care Foundation and its programs visit: www.urologyhealth.org.

Contact: Taylor Titus, AUA
              443-454-3743, ttitus@AUAnet.org

SOURCE American Urological Association and Urology Care Foundation