Events

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center (SQBRC)
303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, IL

AGENDA
1:30 PM Welcome address
               Simpson Querrey Auditorium (SQBRC 1-230)
 
1:45 PM Keynote Presentation
              Simpson Querrey Auditorium, SQBRC 1-230
 
2:45 PM Panel Discussion
              “Collaboration across the age spectrum and disciplines in KUH Research”
               Simpson Querrey Auditorium, SQBRC 1-230
 
3:30–5:00 PM Scientific Poster Session & Networking Reception
                        Potocsnak Family Atrium (SQBRC First Floor Lobby)

Download Symposium Poster

Enjoy light refreshments, view posters, and network with other KUH researchers.  

The Scientific Poster Session & Networking Reception is a wonderful opportunity for physician and basic scientists across Chicago who are engaged in KUH research to gather and make connections and discuss current research in their fields. Moreover, it gives researchers at all career stages valuable experience presenting their research and communicating science to an interdisciplinary audience. 

CALL FOR POSTERS!

We invite graduate and medical students, postdoctoral scholars, residents, fellows, and junior faculty to present a poster showcasing their clinical or basic research in the fields of kidney, benign urology, or benign hematology research.   

• Posters with a cancer focus will not be accepted.  
• For Chicago KUH FORWARD appointed trainees, presenting a poster is mandatory.

Register to present a poster here: Poster Registration

Registration closes at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, April 16.

   1) Prepare your poster

• The maximum poster size allowed is 60 inches wide x 60 inches high.
• Push pins will be provided.

   2) Present your poster on symposium day!

• Check-in begins at 12:30 PM. Posters should be hung between 12:30 and 1:15 PM.
• The Poster Session & Networking Reception begins immediately after the panel session and ends at 5:00 PM.
• At the end of the event, please take your poster down. Any posters left hanging will be disposed.

Questions? contact chicago.kuhforward@northwestern.edu

• For Chicago KUH FORWARD appointed trainees, presenting a poster is mandatory.

We are thrilled to welcome our keynote speaker, Dr. Jeffrey Lebensburger of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Lebensburger has expertise in Sickle Cell Kidney Disease. He served as the Chair, FDA/ASH Clinical Trial Endpoints Working Group, End-Organ Panel; Study Chair, Cure Sickle Cell Initiative: Long-Term Follow-Up Program; Steering Committee Member, Kidney Health Initiative, Sickle Cell Kidney Disease, Natural History and Clinical Trial Endpoints; Member, ASH Clinical Practice Guideline on Sickle Cell Disease, Cardiopulmonary and Kidney Disease.

Dr. Lebensburger has a long-standing interest in professional development serving as the Co-Director, Professional Development core for the Deep South KUH PRIME, co-Director ASH Clinical Research Training Institute, co-Director ASH Clinical Research Training Institute, Mediterranean, Middle East, Northern Africa. He is currently a mentor for four NIH funded K08/K23 investigators, leads a grant writing institute for KUH investigators at UAB, Tulane, and Augusta, and is a standing committee member for NIH/NHLBI Mentored Patient Oriented Research awards (K23/K24).

Dr. Tamara Isakova is widely recognized within the KUH Community as the leader of the Chicago KUH FORWARD training program. An adult nephrologist, her clinical research focuses on disordered mineral metabolism in chronic kidney disease. She leads a robust program in patient-oriented and epidemiological research and has a proven track record of collaboration including with pediatric nephrologists. Dr. Isakova is also well-known for her success as a mentor, having guided medical students, residents, fellows, junior faculty, and K-level awardees. Her mentoring accomplishments have earned her several awards, and she is deeply committed to fostering the development of new investigators.

Dr. Praveen Thumbikat is a basic and translational scientist with a focus on urology and pathology research. His research is centered on understanding the role of immune dysfunction in male urologic diseases. Specifically, his lab explores the mechanisms underlying benign prostate conditions, including bacterial prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dr. Thumbikat has extensive experience mentoring both predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and currently serves as a co-leader of the Network Core in the Chicago KUH FORWARD program.

The Symposium will be held at the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center (SQBRC), 303 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611.

• Driving: The nearest Northwestern parking garage is the Erie Ontario Parking Garage located at 321 E Erie St with entrances on either Erie or Ontario. Attendees who requested a discounted parking voucher when registering for the symposium can pick up their voucher at the symposium check-in table.
• Taxi or Rideshare: The drop off location is 303 E Superior St, Chicago, IL.
• Public transportation: The closest CTA train stop is the Red Line–Chicago stop (Chicago and State). From there it is about a 20-minute walk to SQBRC. CTA Buses 3, 66 120, 121 and 157 all stop directly across the street from SQBRC.