Female Pelvic Research Network Application for Support of Scientific Meeting

描述（由申请人提供）：研究员盆腔研究网络（FPRN）会议促进女性盆腔医学和重建外科研究员（妇科和泌尿科医生）作为临床研究者的发展。会议允许成员集思广益，讨论和发展多中心研究，从该领域的专家那里获得与临床研究相关的说教式教学，并与同行和导师建立有价值的关系。FPRN有处于不同发展阶段的多中心研究项目，包括三个接近完成的成熟项目，两个项目于2008年4月启动，一个项目于2009年4月启动，两个项目预计于2010年开始。FPRN进行的研究旨在回答有关女性盆底功能障碍的临床问题，包括尿失禁和下尿路疾病。多中心研究的优势在于涉及更多的研究者以及招募不同民族、种族和社会经济背景的患者。FPRN面临的挑战之一是确保其持续的研究项目与每年三分之一的成员毕业的现实。FPRN正在寻求资金支持参加其两年一次的会议，并增加女性泌尿学研究员的参与。大部分资金将用于支持其他成员参加会议的旅费，其中一半的奖金将用于女性泌尿外科研究员。刚毕业的初级咨询委员会成员也将获得旅费支助，因为他们的参与符合FPRN培养年轻研究人员的目标。资金还将支持一名受邀演讲者，他将向研究员提供有关女性盆底疾病研究的说教性报告。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The meeting of the Fellows' Pelvic Research Network (FPRN) promotes the development of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellows (Gynecologists and Urologists) as clinical investigators. The meeting allows members to brainstorm, discuss, and develop multi-center research studies, receive didactic teaching pertinent to clinical research from experts in the field, and form valuable relationships with peers and mentors. The FPRN has multi-center research projects in various stages of development including three mature projects nearing completion, two projects launched in April 2008, one project launched in April 2009, and two projects expected to begin in 2010. The research performed by the FPRN is aimed at answering clinical questions about pelvic floor dysfunction in women, including urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract disorders. Multi-center research has the advantage of involving more investigators as well as recruiting ethnically, racially and socioeconomically diverse patients. One of the challenges facing FPRN is to ensure its ongoing research program with the reality of 1/3 of its members graduating every year. The FPRN is seeking funding to support attendance at its biannual meetings and to increase the participation of female urology fellows. The majority of the funds would support fellow members' travel to the meetings, with half of the awards going to female urology fellows. Junior Advisory Board members who are recently graduated fellows would also receive travel support as their involvement is consistent with the FPRN's goal of developing young investigators. Funding would also support an invited speaker who will give a didactic presentation to the fellows pertaining to research in female pelvic floor disorders. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Project Narrative Female pelvic floor disorders, such as urinary incontinence, are prevalent among women yet are not widely discussed in the public domain. This may inhibit women from seeking care for these disorders and inhibit the medical community from appropriately recognizing the significance of these disorders. Research in the field of pelvic floor dysfunction will further clinical knowledge which will ultimately aid in treating and empowering patients.