Research

Many members of the department are actively involved in clinical, basic and translational research projects covering a variety of fields. Additionally, there are two full-time laboratory faculty who spend 100% of their time in the laboratories of the Department of Urology at Stanford. Residents are expected to participate actively in clinical research during each year of their residency and to participate in laboratory research during the research year. Medical students and foreign residents have also routinely rotated through the Stanford Urology Laboratories, making important contributions to research efforts. A sampling of current faculty research interests are briefly outlined. For more information about each faculty member, click on the name below.

• James D. Brooks, M.D.: has basic laboratory research in carcinoma of the prostate, interest in clinical protocols in genitourinary oncology.
• Benjamin I. Chung, M.D.: is interested in developing new technologies in the treatment of both prostate and kidney cancer. He is studying the efficacy of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques for kidney tumors, including cryotherapy, and in developing robotic and laparoscopic novel therapies in the treatment of prostate cancer. Dr Chung is also interested in the novel imaging modalities to improve the detection rate of kidney cancer.
• Craig V. Comiter, M.D.: is investigating how intervening with pharmacotherapy, neuromodulation, and other novel therapies may help to reverse adverse changes in the bladder due to obstruction.
• Michael L. Eisenberg, M.D.: has clinical and laboratory interests in male infertility, erectile dysfunction, hypogoandism and Peyronie's Disease.
• Harcharan S. Gill, M.D.: has clinical and laboratory interests in new surgical treatments for urinary incontinence and benign prostatic hyperplasia. He has clinical research in urology oncology protocols, and pelvic floor anatomy.
• William A. Kennedy II, M.D.: has research interests in urinary tract collagen and renal changes related to obstruction. He has clinical interests in pediatric andrology and fetal urology.
• Robert Kessler, M.D.: has clinical research interests in impotence and infertility.
  
• John Lavelle, M.D.: interested in voiding dysfuction (BPH, incontinence, urinary retention & neurogenic bladder).
• John Leppert, M.D.: is engaged in cancer epidemiology and biomarker research in urologic cancer with a particular focus on kidney cancer. Click here to learn more about the Leppert Lab.
• Joseph Liao, M.D.: interested in urologic oncology and minimally invasive surgery (endoscopic, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted). Click here to learn more about the Liao Lab.
• Donna M. Peehl, Ph.D.: is an expert in cellular biology and leader in tissue culture of the human prostate. She is investigating multiple aspects of the cellular and molecular biology of prostate cancer with the goal of identifying new targets for diagnosis, prevention and therapy.
• Jeffrey H. Reese, M.D.: works with laser technologies in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia and upper tract transitional cell carcinoma and contributes to clinical oncology protocols.
• Linda M. Dairiki Shortliffe, M.D.: interested in clinical and basic laboratory investigations relating to the physiology of urinary tract dilation, hormonal effects on the urinary tract, urinary tract imaging, urinary tract infection, and renal changes relating to urinary tract obstruction. Dr Shortliffe also has collaborative research programs with the Deparatment of Radiology involving magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonic imaging of the urinary tract. Past work has involved bacterial and nonbacterial prostatitis and urinary incontinence.
• Eila Skinner, M.D.: translational research in bladder cancer, long-term surgical and functional outcomes of continent urinary diversion.
• Geoffrey Sonn, M.D.: MRI and molecular imaging of prostate and kidney cancer, MRI-Ultrasound fusion targeted prostate biopsy, fluorescent image-guided surgery, prostate cancer focal ablation therapy.
• Zijie Sun, Ph.D.: interested in understanding the transcriptional processes that govern the transformation of normal mammalian cells to the neoplastic state.
• Hsi-Yang Wu, M.D.: studies the neonatal bladder in terms of maturation of bladder smooth muscle as well as voiding reflexes.
•