Tanecia Mitchell, Ph.D., became the first faculty member of the UAB Department of Urology to receive a K01 award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct her research, “Monocyte Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Kidney Stone Disease.” This is a five-year National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney K01 Mentored Research Scientist Career Development award totaling $768,776. Her research will focus on understanding the significance of mitochondria, oxidative stress, and inflammation in monocytes using clinical samples and experimental models. Dr. Mitchell and colleagues recently published a pilot study in Urology demonstrating a potential role of monocytes in calcium oxalate kidney stone disease. She believes her investigations will provide novel insight into the role of monocytes in kidney stone formation, and may lead to strategies to intervene in the pathogenesis and prognosis of the disease.