Children’s Research Institute Seminar Series

Highly Elastic Biomaterial Development for Urethral Application: Multi-Faceted Design for Dynamic Organ Regeneration and Function

Renea Sturm, MD

Associate Professor of Urology

3116 Mary Ellen Jones

Lunch Provided

or

Please Contact childrensresearch@med.unc.edu for Zoom Details.

Dr. Renea Sturm is a board-certified pediatric urologist and Associate Professor of Urology. She cares for infants, children, and adolescents with complex conditions of the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and genital development. Her surgical expertise includes hypospadias repair, lower urinary tract reconstruction, and minimally invasive surgery using the latest endoscopic and robotic techniques.

Dr. Sturm has completed fellowships in both pediatric urology and medtech entrepreneurship and has co-founded two startup companies while a faculty member at UCLA. She has recently relocated to UNC, where she is establishing a translational research program focused on bladder and urethral reconstruction. Her laboratory develops highly elastic biomaterials, bioengineered scaffolds, and surgical technologies for dynamic lower urinary tract tissues. By integrating biomechanics, computational modeling, and tissue engineering, her work aims to improve reconstructive outcomes and reduce variability in surgical care. In addition to generous donor and departmental support, her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Technology Development Group at UCLA, and the American Urological Association.

Join the Children’s Research Institute monthly for dynamic sessions where CRI members, trainees, and the broader scientific community connect to explore cutting-edge research in child health. These seminars foster collaboration, spark new ideas, and highlight ongoing work in pediatric science.

What to Expect:

• Talks by top researchers from UNC and beyond, with opportunities for collaboration.
• Works-in-progress and career development reviews by early-career faculty and trainees.
• Special events focused on CRI, NC Children’s, and Department of Pediatrics initiatives.

Open to All:

You don’t need to be a CRI member to present or participate. Have an idea to share? We’d love to hear from you—contact childrensresearch@med.unc.edu