“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”–Plato

The Office of Research of the American Urological Association has made tremendous strides in establishing an important foothold in fostering genitourinary discovery. This is an exciting and yet challenging moment to expand our influence and role. The key part of our strategy is to enthusiastically expand the Urology Discovery tent. We want to break down barriers that have precluded many forward-looking investigators from making potentially important contributions to our field. In my role as Chair-elect, and now beginning my term as Chair of the Research Council, I’ve learned a lot about what has been done, what can be done and, with all of your support, what will be done! Over the next few editions of this column in AUANews, we will be sharing the Research Strategic Plan we’ve proposed for the next 4 years.

Our Key Goals are:

1. Maximize sustainment and optimization of research support.
2. Increase our impact through a wider and more strategic constituency:
   1. Increase capacity for diversity, equity and inclusion.
   2. Engage and collaborate with our community-based research partners.
   3. Partner with international AUA Stakeholders in research.
3. Grow resources to support Urology Research and Discovery. More specifically, we are examining development of a Urology Incubator.

For Key Goal 1, we will increase our stability and quantity via increasingly effective use of existing funds and other resources. Moreover, we will increase our focus on critical questions and unmet Urology Discovery needs. An important aspect of our vision is to create a platform for new investigators throughout the Urology Career life cycle. Through enhancement of our very successful USMART Academy (Urology Scientific Mentoring and Research Training), we hope to widen our breadth and scope of urology researchers. We also recognize that the post-COVID ecosphere will require us to navigate challenging headwinds and be able to adapt nimbly and effectively.

I look forward to sharing more about these goals, plans and advancements in future AUANews issues. I am energized by the incredible enthusiasm generated by colleagues in the Urology world and working closely with each of them to move the Research ball forward. Led by Dr. Carolyn Best and her talented staff at the Office of Research, Dr. Ganesh Raj, who chairs the Research Grants and Investigator Support Committee (RGISC), Dr. David Jarrard, who chairs the Research Education, Conferences and Communications Committee (RECCC), and Dr. Michael Hsieh, who chairs the Research Advocacy Committee (RAC), our Urology Community is blessed with the tools and leaders we will need to advance our ambitious agenda.

Finally, as one of the key tripartite goals of the AUA, Research and Discovery is the lifeblood of our specialty. I hope to engage all of those interested in this mission. Please feel free to contact me with ideas, suggestions or thoughts. Together, let us create the future! Follow Dr. Kaplan on Twitter@MaleHealthDoc.