Joseph Crivelli, M.D., assistant professor and endourologist from the Department of Urology, received a $900k five-year K23 career development grant funded by the National Institutes of Health to assess the social and dietary determinants of kidney stone risk in racially and ethnically diverse populations.
Kidney stone disease (KSD) affects millions of Americans per year, and ultimately leads to significant annual healthcare expenses, substantial economic loss related to decreased work productivity, and can have a negative impact on a diagnosed individual’s quality of life. Evidence suggests that social determinants of health (SDOH) play a role in increasing the risk of KSD, which could, in part, explain the disproportionate increase in KSD prevalence found in racial and ethnic minority populations. Diet and lifestyle are well-known contributors to KSD risk; however, Crivelli and his research team found that there has been a lack of comprehensive research examining the relationship between SDOH and the risk of KSD in diverse populations, and the interplay of diet.
“We are all very proud of Dr. Crivelli for securing this NIH career development award to support his patient-oriented research. (He) is a stellar surgeon-scientist, making huge strides in the field of endourology and kidney stone disease,” says Dr. Soroush Rais-Bahrami, interim chair of the Department of Urology.
As the principal investigator, Crivelli, and his colleagues will perform a clinical trial to examine the effect of adopting a healthy diet on urinary risk factors associated with kidney stone disease. Individuals with a history of KSD will be randomly assigned to follow a standardized Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-style diet or a standardized Western-style diet for an entire week. This will be the first prospective controlled study examining the effects of the DASH dietary pattern on urinary stone risk factors.
“I am grateful to the deeply committed team of mentors and collaborators on this award,” says Crivelli.
Overall, Crivelli and his team strive to identify associations of SDOH with kidney stone risk in racially and ethnically diverse populations, measure how dietary quality influences these associations, and the effect of adopting a healthy diet on kidney stone risk.
"Congratulations to Dr. Crivelli on getting the prestigious NIH K23 Grant. The Department of Urology is lucky to have such an exceptional surgeon-scientist,” says, Dr. Kyle Wood, Vice Chair of Research of the Department of Urology.
The department would like to thank the mentors and collaborators listed below for their dedication and contributions to the success of this project:
Dr. Orlando Gutierrez (UAB Heersink SOM Division of Nephrology), Dr. Dean Assimos (UAB Heersink SOM Department of Urology), Dr. John Knight (UAB Heersink SOM Department of Urology), Dr. Gerald McGwin (UAB School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology), Dr. Eric Taylor (Brigham and Women’s Hospital Channing Division of Network Medicine), Dr. Cora Lewis (UAB School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology), Dr. James Lash (University of Illinois College of Medicine Division of Nephrology), Dr. Paul Muntner (UAB School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology), Dr. David Jacobs (University of Minnesota School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology), Dr. Amanda Fretts (University of Washington School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology), and Dr. Margaret Hicken (University of Michigan School of Public Health Institute for Social Research).