KL2 Spotlight: Alejandra Camacho-Soto, M.D., MPHS, University of Kansas Medical Center
By Kelly Hale, Communications Coordinator
Jul 11, 2024
Project Title: Morbidity Matters: Predicting Fractures in Parkinson's Disease
Project Summary: Alejandra Camacho-Soto's research aims to: 1) to evaluate the predictive performance of commonly used fracture risk prediction tools, specifically FRAX and QFracture, in predicting fractures in people with Parkinson’s Disease and 2) to explore how medications are prescribed to treat motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease immediately after diagnosis and over several years using Medicare claims data from 2009-2014.
Alejandra Camacho-Soto, M.D., MPH, has had a passion for research since medical school. Applying for the Frontiers KL2 program seemed like the next logical step in her career. She began her research career at Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) before continuing her academic pursuits at the University of Kansas Medical Center. There, Randy Nudo, Ph.D., FAHA, FASNR, the vice chair of research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine introduced her to the KL2 Career Development Program, and her current mentors Ed Ellerbeck, M.D., MPH, and Jacob Sosnoff, Ph.D.
"I knew I wanted to continue on the research track," Camacho-Soto shared. "Having done the T32 in medical school and then being awarded multiple grants at Washington University and really wanting to be an independent investigator, applying for the KL2 was the next step to hopefully get enough preliminary data to apply for an R01, which I’ve recently submitted."
One of the most valuable aspects of the KL2 Career Development Program for Camacho-Soto has been the in-depth learning about grant writing. "I've learned so much as my mentors reviewed my R01 application as an outside reviewer would, which was really beneficial," she said.
Camacho-Soto also benefited greatly from networking opportunities at the Frontiers Research Symposium, where she exchanged ideas and perspectives with her fellow scholars. "It's been really great to look at the mentor-mentee relationship and hone in on those mentoring skills to take the next step of becoming a mentor myself," Camacho-Soto said.
Camacho-Soto offers one last piece of advice for future KL2 Scholars: "Don't be afraid to ask questions."