Code Blue and Gold

The quarterly newsletter of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Medicine

PCT-KUH: Pittsburgh center for training in kidney, urology and hematology

Sep 26, 2024

In 2020, the Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases of the NIDDK reshaped its institutional training program. In place of the traditional NRSA T32, it developed a larger institutional network award, its new U2C/TL1 mechanism. While the TL1 functions similarly to a standard T32, the U2C portion provides trainees additional career and professional developmental support with a focus across the three research areas. Moreover, these news awards are meant to support training across multiple institutions within the same geographical region to foster interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration.

So, with its successful 20-year T32 program focused on renal and epithelial biology ending, the Renal-Electrolyte Division submitted a successful U2C/TL1 proposal focused on training the next generation of KUH investigators in the Pittsburgh region. One of only 15 KUH U2C/TL1s in the nation, this new training program, led by Drs. Thomas Kleyman and Manisha Jhamb in the Renal-Electrolyte Division and Dr. Jacqueline Ho in the Department of Pediatrics, will prepare predoctoral students, physicians, and PhD postdoctoral trainees for biomedical research careers by providing a concentrated, in-depth research experience.

Tom Kleyman, MD

Tom Kleyman, MD – Director, Training Core

With 74 training faculty from across the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, the PCT-KUH Training Core is designed to foster a rigorous approach to scientific inquiry in basic science or clinical investigation in kidney, urology, and benign hematology research. Together, these faculty form a well-integrated and collaborative entity dedicated to research training and investigation in nephrology, benign urology and benign hematology. Trainees, recruited from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Allegheny Health System, will develop research projects under the supervision of faculty trainers and will be closely monitored and evaluated by an advisory committee, career advisors, and by a research training executive committee.
Manisha Jhamb

Manisha Jhamb, MD, MPH – Director, Professional Development Core

The overall goal of the PCT-KUH Professional Development Core is to develop and support curriculum, activities opportunities and resources designed to equip trainees with career development skills that will be sustained well past the training period. The core’s primary directive is to provide trainees with the information and resources they need to identify, pursue, and be impactful in a broad range of career paths that will benefit from their scientific training. At the same time, this core will provide professional development resources for faculty mentors to enhance their mentoring skills in order to have highly effective mentor-mentee relationships. The program has assembled an experienced and diverse leadership and facilitator structure, a well-rounded curriculum and a supporting learning environment that leverages the rich resources at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Allegheny Health Network for professional growth and career exploration.

The PCT-KUH Networking Core will focus on building a vibrant and dynamic trainee community in kidney, benign urology, and benign hematology-based (KUH) research in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Engaging and exciting trainees early in their careers regarding KUH-focused research areas is critical to address the declining numbers of individuals entering the biomedical research workforce. The Pittsburgh region is uniquely equipped to leverage several already existing robust KUH-focused training programs on which to build this community, that include high school summer student research experiences, medical student/resident/fellow research and predoctoral/postdoctoral training. The Networking Core will support a robust mentoring environment for all KUH trainees, from high school students to early career development awardees, in an effort to increase the engagement of a diverse group of trainees early in their careers. The Core activities will include a weekly KUH-focused research seminar series, face-to-face structured interactions across disciplines at monthly workshops, and active peer to peer, peer-near peer and alumni networks.

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