Joseph Crivelli, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Urology, was recently named a recipient of the Rising Stars in Urology Research Award from the American Urological Association.

This prestigious award was designed for early career faculty who are making an impact through discovery in their area of expertise. Crivelli’s proposal aims to study how social factors and diet influence the risk of kidney stones in various populations. The study includes three main goals: identify factors linked to the risk of kidney stones in a group of people from five different studies; examine how changes over time in factors such as diet, weight, and social conditions relate to kidney stone risk in participants of CARDIA, a cohort of adults followed for more than 35 years; and test whether adopting a healthy diet can reduce the risk of kidney stones in people who already have them.

“I am deeply grateful to the dedicated mentors and collaborators who made this award possible,” Crivelli said. “The exceptional support for early-career investigators at UAB and within the Department of Urology has been invaluable, and this award reflects that commitment.”

The program offers up to five years of additional salary support to urologists who have secured career development awards from the NIH or other significant funding bodies. It motivates recipients to advance the field of urology both as surgical experts and researchers exploring the causes, prevention, treatment, and cures to enhance patient outcomes.