Research Interests
Urinary microbiome with aging and with recurrent urinary tract infections
Epigenomics of overactive bladder/urgency urinary incontinence
Epigenomics of overactive bladder/urgency urinary incontinence
Selected Grants
Ethicon Pelvic Mesh PMCF Registry
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ethicon, Inc. · 2022 - 2033GYNECARE TVT EXACT® Post-Market Clinical Follow-Up
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Ethicon, Inc. · 2022 - 2033Duke KURe Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2013 - 2028Predicting phenotypes in benign urology
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2027NICHD Pelvic Floor Disorders Network (PFDN)
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Research Triangle Institute International · 2022 - 2027Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) Pelvic Floor Disorders Network (PFDN) Clinical Site
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · 2007 - 2027Advancing the Measurement and Classification of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2012 - 2025Development of Humanized Mouse Models for Studies of the Urogenital Microbiome
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Wisconsin - Madison · 2022 - 2024Urinary Lactobacilli and microbial interference in the aging urinary microbiome
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation · 2020 - 2022Conference for Prolapse Outcome Measurement
ConferenceCo Investigator · Awarded by American Urogynecologic Society · 2020 - 2021Effects of Aging and the Urinary Microbiome on Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2018 - 2021A Prediction Model and Electronic Calculator for Risk of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries
ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by PFD Research Foundation · 2019 - 2021Epigenomics in insulin resistance associated overactive bladder
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2020Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery: Curriculum and Technical Validation Skills
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Institute for Surgical Excellence · 2014 - 2016Sexual Function in Patients and Partners after Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation · 2009 - 2009Fellowships, Gifts, and Supported Research
Pepper OAIC Research Career Development Award ·
July 2018
- June 2020
Scholar ·
Awarded by: NIA/Duke School of Medicine
Effects of Aging and the Urinary Microbiome on Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: A study of how the urinary microbiome changes with aging and after menopause in women. The study also aims to clarify the microbiota and urotypes associated with recurrent urinary tract infection in postmenopausal women.
Duke Scholar ·
January 2018
- December 2018
Awarded by: Doris Duke Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists
Funding to retain physician-scientists with significant caregiving responsibilities
K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award ·
June 2017
- May 2020
PI ·
Awarded by: NIDDK
Epigenomics in insulin resistance associated overactive bladder. Mentored career development award; research aims focus on genomic and epigenomic alterations in urothelial cells in women with insulin resistance associated overactive bladder.
Advancing the Measurement and Classification of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction ·
June 2016
- May 2018
Co-Investigator ·
Awarded by: NIH
· $35,744.00
Specific Aim 1: To assess the correspondence between 1) average daily recall over 7 days and weekly
recall of self-reported LUTS and 2) average daily recall over 30 days and monthly recall of self-reported
LUTS.
Hypothesis 1.1: There will be an association between average daily recall and weekly recall of selfreported
LUTS.
Hypothesis 1.2: There will be an association between average daily recall and monthly recall of selfreported
LUTS.
Subaim 1A: To understand the heuristics that people may use to construct their weekly and
monthly reports of LUTS (e.g., reporting peaks/valleys or most recent experience).
Subaim 1B: To describe the daily variation in symptoms over time and assess correspondence
between variability based on daily report and weekly or monthly recalled level of that symptom.
Subaim 1C: To model trends in symptoms over the daily measurement periods, e.g., a decrease
in symptoms may indicate increasing awareness of symptoms that lead to actions (drinking less, using
the toilet more) that may reduce the symptom.
Subaim 1D: To assess the effect on weekly survey responses of having a prior week of daily
surveys versus a prior week with no daily surveys.
Specific Aim 2: To assess the associations between better recall of LUTS and patient characteristics,
including bother, depression, anxiety, mood, and episodic memory.
Hypothesis 2.1: Greater bother will be associated with lower correspondence between different recall
periods, i.e., symptoms are related to over-reporting.
Specific Aim 3: To examine the association between overlapping parameters in a clinical (eventtriggered)
3-day bladder diary and self-reported 3-day and weekly recall.
Hypothesis 3.1: There will be an association between overlapping parameters (i.e., frequency, leaking,
urgency) in the bladder diary and 3-day and weekly recall.
Urinary methylation patterns in women with bladder pain syndrome ·
July 2015
- June 2016
PI ·
Awarded by: Charles B. Hammond Fund, Duke OB/GYN
Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program ·
July 2013
- June 2015
Awarded by: NIH/NCMHD
Post-Approval Network Registry ·
April 2013
- June 2018
PI ·
Awarded by: Medtronic, Inc.
Ongoing registry and FDA post-approval monitoring of implanted sacral neuromodulation (bladder/bowel nerve stimulator) devices
Multidisciplinary K12 for Benign Urologic Research ·
2013
- 2017
Scholar ·
Awarded by: NIDDK/Duke
Scholar for research training and career development in benign urologic research
Advancing the Measurement and Classification of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction ·
September 2012
- May 2018
Co-Investigator ·
Awarded by: NIH
· $23,450.00
Specific Aim 1: To assess the correspondence between 1) average daily recall over 7 days and weekly recall of self-reported LUTS and 2) average daily recall over 30 days and monthly recall of self-reported LUTS.
Hypothesis 1.1: There will be an association between average daily recall and weekly recall of self-reported LUTS.
Hypothesis 1.2: There will be an association between average daily recall and monthly recall of self-reported LUTS.
Subaim 1A: To understand the heuristics that people may use to construct their weekly and monthly reports of LUTS (e.g., reporting peaks/valleys or most recent experience).
Subaim 1B: To describe the daily variation in symptoms over time and assess correspondence between variability based on daily report and weekly or monthly recalled level of that symptom.
Subaim 1C: To model trends in symptoms over the daily measurement periods, e.g., a decrease in symptoms may indicate increasing awareness of symptoms that lead to actions (drinking less, using the toilet more) that may reduce the symptom.
Subaim 1D: To assess the effect on weekly survey responses of having a prior week of daily surveys versus a prior week with no daily surveys.
Specific Aim 2: To assess the associations between better recall of LUTS and patient characteristics, including bother, depression, anxiety, mood, and episodic memory.
Hypothesis 2.1: Greater bother will be associated with lower correspondence between different recall periods, i.e., symptoms are related to over-reporting.
Specific Aim 3: To examine the association between overlapping parameters in a clinical (event triggered) 3-day bladder diary and self-reported 3-day and weekly recall.
Hypothesis 3.1: There will be an association between overlapping parameters (i.e., frequency, leaking, urgency) in the bladder diary and 3-day and weekly recall.
Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program ·
July 2011
- June 2013
Awarded by: NIH/NCMHD
Health seeking behaviors in racially diverse women with urinary incontinence ·
February 2011
- January 2013
PI ·
Awarded by: American Urogynecologic Society Foundation
Relationships of neural structures and uterosacral ligament suspension sutures ·
August 2008
- June 2010
PI ·
Awarded by: Astellas USA Foundation
External Relationships
- American Urogynecologic Society
- Boston Scientific Corporation
- Ethicon, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
- Medtronic (Covidien)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Virginia
- UpToDate, Inc
- Weill Cornell Medical College
This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.