Department of Urology
As physician-scientists, we provide compassionate care to individual patients, but we also work tirelessly to identify strategies and solutions that will ultimately prevent or cure urological diseases for future generations.
In the Department of Urology, we conduct basic science investigations and perform translational and clinical research studies that contribute to the rapidly evolving field of urology and improve outcomes for patients in Richmond, across the U.S. and beyond.
We believe in team science and are proud to collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues across the university, including in VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and the VCU College of Engineering. As the department continues to grow, so does the scope and impact of our innovative research.
Our multidisciplinary team, including urology and mechanical engineering researchers, is working to develop novel methods to non-invasively study voiding function at the level of the bladder and the brain. The technique uses near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which involves the passage of painless light waves through the skin that allow for the measurement of blood flow.
Using this technique, our studies show that patients with overactive bladder (OAB) have unique blood flow patterns, and our research group with scientists from VCU and UCLA are working to use this information to improve the way we diagnose and treat our patients. The ultimate research goal is to help determine whether OAB is caused by a brain problem, a bladder problem or both.
When studying conditions like overactive bladder (OAB), the current gold standard for diagnosis is called urodynamics. This procedure involves inserting a catheter into the bladder, instilling fluid and measuring pressures. This test is often uncomfortable, and irritation from the catheter can affect the results. In addition, the test does not provide information about bladder wall micromotion and bladder biomechanics.
To address these concerns, we established our laboratory of mechano-urology, which is jointly run by VCU urology and mechanical engineering. The goal of the lab is to develop next generation urodynamics that improve the quality and reliability of urodynamics testing in a non-invasive way. To achieve this goal, we are currently using 3D ultrasound to gain information about bladder shape and wall motion, as this is not obtained with current urodynamic studies. We have also developed a preclinical model of urodynamics and are using the research findings to improve the way we diagnose and classify OAB.
Many side effects are associated with removing organs like the bladder and prostate during cancer treatment. Through clinical trials, we are investigating ways to minimize the harms of treating cancers of the urologic organs.
Our Division of Pediatric Urology, which provides nearly all the pediatric urology care for Central Viriginia, is involved in multiple research and quality improvement studies focused on the health and wellbeing of children suffering from urologic conditions. Studies include the management of prenatal hydronephrosis and improved quality and recovery after urologic surgery in children. Our ongoing collaborative efforts include:
One of the key issues in medical student education is how to develop innovative teaching strategies to train the next generation of doctors. Medical students, like the rest of us, learn very differently, and not everyone can absorb information through the standard lecture format. To address this issue, we are involved in a project using clay models of urologic organs to improve the medical student learning experience. Students are given a block of clay and asked to create a urologic organ. The activity encourages creativity, outside-the-box thinking and provides a 3D, hands-on learning method for students.
Current treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) don’t fix the underlying problem, which is mainly that vascular tissue responsible for erections is often not functioning properly. Instead, these treatments work to bypass the problem with medications, vacuum devices or surgery. So, when patients stop the treatment, they still have ED.
To address this issue, researchers in the Department of Urology are using a novel technology called low intensity shock wave lithotripsy (LISWL), which has been shown to promote stem cell generation and can potentially repair damaged vascular tissue. In theory, this type of therapy could lead to healthier vascular tissue or even a cure of ED. While results of this treatment are early, our studies are shedding light into the mechanisms of ED and may one day lead to vastly improved, curative treatments.
We welcome inquiries from medical students who are interested in pursuing urology research. Each year we recruit rising M2s through the Dean’s Summer Research Fellowship, an eight-week funded program for students who have completed their M1 year. Faculty are actively conducting studies across multiple subspecialties of urology, and students are welcome to contact us for more information about connecting with a research mentor:
Rebecca Zee, M.D., Ph.D.
Acting internship director and urology student interest group director
rebecca.zee@vcuhealth.org
Our residency program includes four months of dedicated research time during the PGY-3 year. Each resident must meet with the research director to discuss topics at least three months prior to the start of the research rotation. Residents may join an existing project or explore a topic within their own area of interest. Multiple research opportunities are available, and residents have been highly productive with published abstracts and papers that pave the way for top-ranked fellowships or highly sought-after jobs.