Stanford Urology’s 6th Annual Research Day
Faculty, trainees and researchers came together for a full day of scientific exchange, collaboration and new ideas at the Stanford Department of Urology’s 6th Annual Research Day.
What began as an idea to bring the department’s research community together has grown into one of the Stanford Department of Urology’s most anticipated annual gatherings. On Friday, August 14, a packed conference room at Stanford Research Park welcomed faculty, trainees, researchers and collaborators for the sixth edition of Research Day, with presentations spanning basic science, translational research, clinical investigation and emerging technologies.
Research Day was first spearheaded and continues to be led by Joseph C. Liao, MD, now chair of the Stanford Department of Urology. The inaugural Research Day was held virtually, creating a dedicated forum for faculty, trainees and researchers to share their work and exchange ideas across the department. The event transitioned to an in-person gathering in the years that followed and has continued to grow in scope and participation. Now in its sixth year, Research Day has become a signature department tradition centered on scientific exchange, collaboration and the next generation of urologic research.
Liao opened this year’s program, followed by a morning lineup that reflected the breadth of research taking place across urology and beyond.
The first of two featured speakers, Maximilian Diehn, MD, PhD, the Jack, Lulu, and Sam Willson Professor of Radiation Oncology, whose work spans laboratory, translational and clinical research, presented on urine liquid biopsies for bladder cancer detection and molecular characterization using both urine tumor DNA and urine cell free RNA. His research broadly focuses on cancer genomics, stem cell biology and cancer biology.
He was followed by John B. Sunwoo, MD, the Edward C. and Amy H. Sewall Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Medicine. Sunwoo spoke about the role of natural killer (NK) cells in head and neck cancer as well as sharing his thoughts about career development for a surgeon scientist.
The morning program then moved across several areas of active investigation within Stanford Urology. Kris Prado, MD, presented work using spatial transcriptomics to study bladder tumors, while Guolan Lu, PhD, discussed spatial multi-omics approaches for mapping tumor ecosystems at subcellular resolution. Sandy Srinivas, MD, highlighted the infrastructure supporting advanced prostate cancer clinical trials at Stanford, and Craig Comiter, MD, shared work related to urinary tract infections and less invasive approaches to urodynamics.
Taken together, the presentations highlighted the range of approaches being used to address questions in urology, from molecular science and spatial biology to clinical trials, diagnostics and patient care.
Cho remained at Temple for his surgical internship and urology residency, continuing to learn from mentors including Daniel Eun, MD, and Michael Metro, MD. Their work in reconstructive urology helped shape his clinical interests and ultimately led him to pursue fellowship training in genitourinary reconstruction and trauma at the University of California, San Diego, with Jill Buckley, MD.
Through IVU Med, he was able to participate in a weeklong medical mission in reconstructive urology for the people of Mongolia. This was such a positive experience that he views it as an endeavor he wishes to continue to pursue as a representative of Stanford urology.
Putting Early Ideas to the Test
One of the defining additions to this year’s program was the Speed Networking Pitch. Twelve participants, ranging from undergraduate researchers to instructors, were given five minutes and two slides to introduce an early research idea or project. The deliberately concise format shifted the emphasis from a traditional scientific presentation to the central questions behind each project: What is the idea, why does it matter, and where could it go next?
The session featured pitches from Carina De La Cueva, MD; Matthew Wong, PhD; Emily Zhao; Max Siauw; Tanmoy Sarkar Pias, PhD; Zhefu Li; Benjamin Park; Amara Ndumele, MD; Xinran Li; Ashu Mohammad, PhD; Hannah Thomas, MBChB, MS; and Alex Polasko, PhD.
A panel of Stanford Urology faculty, Craig Comiter, MD, James Brooks, MD, Eila Skinner, MD, and Jay Shah, MD, challenged presenters with questions and evaluated each pitch. The session was hosted by John Leppert, MD, MS. After hearing all 12 presentations, the judges scored the pitches and selected the top three, with the winners announced at the conclusion of the session.
First Place: Alex Polasko, PhD
Second Place: Hannah Thomas, MBChB MS
Third Place: Carina De La Cueva, MD
Beyond the competition itself, the new format created another avenue for researchers across levels of training and experience to make connections, test ideas and identify opportunities for collaboration.
"The Annual Research Day brought together faculty, trainees, and researchers in a spirit of curiosity and collaboration. The breadth of work and the energy in the room remind us why we do this - and I am excited about where it will take us," said Joseph C. Liao, MD.
The afternoon then turned the spotlight to residents, clinical fellows and postdoctoral fellows, with six presentations spanning imaging, cancer biology, surgical outcomes, spatial proteomics, digital health and epidemiology:
- Zoe Gan, MD - Quantification of MRI Perfusion for the Bladder, Urethra, and Pelvic Floor Muscles and Correlation with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Women
- Daniel Triner, MD, PhD - Urothelial Cancer with Divergent Histology: An Identity Crisis
- Calvin Zhao, MD - Investigating Preoperative Practices to Reduce Sepsis in Urolithiasis Surgery
- Changlin Li, PhD - AI-Powered 3D Spatial Proteomics
- Susanna Gunamany, PhD - Patient and Provider Perspectives on Digital Health Interventions for Overactive Bladder Care
- Minji Jung, PhD - Bidirectional Links Between Kidney Cancer and Cardiovascular Health: Epidemiologic Perspectives
The range of work presented throughout the day reflected what Research Day was created to support: a forum where researchers at different stages of their careers can exchange ideas and learn from one another. Six years after its virtual beginnings, Research Day continues to serve that purpose while growing alongside the department’s research community.
The Department of Urology extends special thanks to Tisha Thimbunjuad, Kachyee Vang and Tiffany Zhou, whose hard work and coordination were instrumental in organizing this year’s event, as well as to the presenters, judges and attendees who helped make the day a success.
