Research

The Department of Urology has a driving interest in studying prostate cancer, bladder cancer, tissue bioengineering, surgical training through simulation, and new methods of less invasive and robotic surgery.

Dr. Ralph Clayman and his colleagues are world renowned for their expertise as surgeons and researchers in the use of minimally invasive surgery for kidney and other urological diseases. Their research has resulted in more than 500 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. They also are asked to consult with surgeons worldwide on minimally invasive techniques and are recognized as leaders in providing educational courses on these techniques to other urologists nationwide.

Patients benefit from these research findings with less-invasive surgeries, less blood loss and reduced recovery times. Their findings, which have been adapted to the operating room and bedside, include:

• Expanding the use of laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for a number of disorders, including kidney removal for benign disease and for cancer, correction of urinary tract obstruction, and application of laparoscopy to various aspects of pediatric urology.
• Discovering a close relationship between urinary incontinence and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. These findings could help reverse this urinary disorder with special treatment for children with ADHD.
• Using newly developed technology (often first tested in the UC Irvine urology laboratory) for better endoscopic treatment of patients with kidney and ureteral stones.
• Under the guidance of Dr. Xiaolin Zi, the department has secured more than $2.5 million in peer-review research funding.