He was eager for input from colleagues in urology and nephrology to help him plan better early studies for maximum translational impact for their patients. His research at the time centered around the megabladder mouse model, which became the first animal model of congenital obstructive nephropathy and chronic kidney failure. McHugh first pushed to establish NURAG, he did so to unite basic science researchers like himself with curious clinicians for the advancement of pediatric urology and nephrology care.
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And the whole group benefits from new insights and knowledge in their field, plus an abundance of spirited discussion and ideas for future exploration.īest of all, members say, the atmosphere is friendly and fosters intellectual exchange and collaboration among multiple disciplines, giving birth to relationships and research projects that may otherwise not have seen the light of day. The audience gets to learn about something relevant and new, and the speaker gets thoughtful, well-rounded feedback from experts in numerous disciplines.
The presenter shares in-progress research, a manuscript planned for publication, or a talk about a less scientific area of medicine that affects members as well, such as quality improvement or advocacy. The group meetings include a planned speaker, either from within NURAG membership or invited from another institution. The original participants loved the early gatherings so much that NURAG organically evolved (over 15 years of monthly meetings) into a broad group of dozens of physician-researchers and basic scientists with an interest in the overlapping areas of urology and nephrology. The group was founded by a developmental biologist and anatomist at Nationwide Children’s - Kirk McHugh, PhD, now director of the Division of Anatomy at The Ohio State University College of Medicine - eager to do something clinically useful with his newly discovered megabladder mouse model. This interdisciplinary, communication-oriented approach to clinical and translational research is at the heart of the Nephrology and Urology Research Affinity Group (NURAG) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Everyone would get what they need, and together, these experts would advance patient care and medical knowledge.
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The scientist could study biomarkers to identify patients that most need surgery, the urologist could collect tissue samples on nephrology patients head – ed to the operating room, and nephrologists could teach bench scientists how to do a renal ultrasound on models to measure disease severity. If each of these professionals had a defined network of colleagues from the other disciplines - colleagues knowledgeable about their areas of interest and willing to collaborate - research and care could take a leap forward. Nephrology physician-scientists require tissue samples, urologists desire tests to know which patients truly require surgery, and basic scientists must find ways to meaningfully assess new animal models to yield clinically valuable data. Purposeful synergy drives the most meaningful medical science.