For more than a decade, Candace Yvonne Parker-Autry, MD, has focused her research on urinary incontinence, a common but often overlooked condition that affects millions of women. By combining clinical care, translational research, and multi-disciplinary collaboration, her work is helping to renew dignity and improve the daily lives of women affected at any age through evidenced-based and personalized care.
Her research has established the clinical relevance of the common geriatric urinary incontinence syndrome by challenging the idea that any urinary leakage in women is a normal part of aging. That work now informs care in a specialty clinic where patients receive comprehensive assessments of cognitive function, mobility, balance, and other factors that can affect incontinence severity and treatment outcomes.
“I call it an endemic,” she explained. “It’s a condition that’s incredibly common, but we’ve normalized it to the point that many women simply live with it rather than seek treatment.”
Through this work, Dr. Parker-Autry is helping providers better identify women at risk for severe or treatment-resistant symptoms and tailor care to support independence, function, and quality of life.
Leveraging CTSI Resources to Advance Research
Throughout her research journey, Dr. Parker-Autry has used Wake Forest CTSI resources to move ideas forward, strengthen grant applications, and support complex studies. CTSI grant editing, grantsmanship support, statistical consultation, and collaborative expertise have helped shape her research program over the past 12 years.
CTSI’s Research Studios was especially valuable, connecting her with experts in geriatrics, musculoskeletal physiology, clinical research , randomized controlled trials, and related fields. Their feedback helped guide the next phase of her work, from defining and diagnosing geriatric urinary incontinence to developing and evaluating treatment strategies.
She also participated in the K&R Writers Series and has continued to collaborate with CTSI’s biostatisticians on grants and research projects. For one NIH-funded study, CTSI also provided clinical coordinator support to help execute the project.
“Access to the support of a CTSI has numerous benefits for junior and mid-level faculty and is a privilege,” she said. “The level of expertise and resources of the CTSI is necessary and imperative for success of clinicians who pursue research.”
Looking Ahead
As both a physician and researcher, Dr. Parker-Autry sees implementation science research as a way to move clinical observations into real-world solutions more quickly. Her work has already helped thousands of women through research and clinical care, and she remains focused on improving how older adults are identified, evaluated, and treated.
Thinking about your next project? Take Dr. Parker-Autry's advice: “Just do it.” CTSI services are designed to connect investigators with the expertise, resources, and support needed to move research forward. As she put it, “CTSI puts you on the shoulders of giants.” Whether you need help with study design, data support, community engagement, grant development, or navigating the research process, CTSI can help you take the next step. Learn more about CTSI services and request support today.