Kymora B. Scotland
· Professor of BioengineeringVerifiedUniversity of California, Los Angeles · Bioengineering
Active 1993–2026
About
Kymora B. Scotland is an Assistant Professor-in-Residence of Urology at UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. She serves as the Director of Endourology Research and the Associate Director of the Endourology Fellowship Program. Her educational background includes a BA in Chemistry from Hunter College of the City University of New York, a PhD in Pharmacology from the Tri-Institutional MD/PhD Program, and medical training through a Urology Residency Program at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. She is currently completing a fellowship in Endourology at the University of British Columbia, Department of Urologic Sciences. Her research focuses on urology, specifically endourology, and she is involved in advancing knowledge and treatment within this field.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Internal medicine
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Urology
- Organic chemistry
- Radiology
- Materials science
- Bioinformatics
- Nanotechnology
- Engineering
- Combinatorial chemistry
- Microbiology
Selected publications
Nutrition and Health · 2026-02-06
articleSenior authorCorrespondingBackgroundWith the rise in availability of herbal supplements, there has been a similarly expanding landscape of online information about these supplements.Aims/ObjectivesThis study identifies commonly used herbal supplements, their ingredients, oxalate content, and the reliability of their online information.Methods/MethodologyA survey was administered to members of a nephrolithiasis Facebook group on their use of herbal supplements. The top 10 bestselling herbal supplements on Amazon and their common ingredients were identified. Consumer interest and online engagement with these ingredients were analyzed using Google Trends and BuzzSumo. The reliability of the top 10 articles for each ingredient was rated using the DISCERN questionnaire. Oxalate content was quantified by ion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.Results/FindingsThe most common ingredients in supplements were black pepper, ginger, apple cider vinegar, and turmeric. Google Trends identified apple cider vinegar, ginger, and turmeric as search terms of high interest. BuzzSumo revealed the highest article engagement and video views for apple cider vinegar. For all ingredients, average DISCERN scores for the most popular articles were in the "poor reliability" category. Turmeric-containing and standalone turmeric formulations were found to have the highest oxalate levels, with ranges of 2.69-54.8 mg/g and 15-19.5 mg/g, respectively.ConclusionsHigh consumer interest in herbal supplements combined with unreliable online information highlights the need for high-quality, evidence-based information. With popular herbal supplements containing varying amounts of oxalate, it may be useful for those providing care for kidney stone formers to familiarize themselves with popular herbal products and their lithogenic potential.
Intercalated bacterial biofilms are intrinsic internal components of calcium-based kidney stones
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2026-01-26 · 1 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingCalcium oxalate stones comprise greater than 70% of all kidney stones. In the current conceptual framework, the initial stone nidus is thought to include the aggregation of inorganic crystallites, the formation of which is favored by elevated concentrations of dissolved constituents. Here, we show that this highly prevalent stone type comprises a form of organic-inorganic polycrystalline biocomposite with integrated bacterial biofilms. Evidence from electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy reveal the unanticipated internal structure of kidney stones from human patients, where bacterial biofilms are intercalated between polycrystalline mineral layers, even in stones identified as "noninfectious" clinically, including those in patients without underlying urinary tract infections. We observe similar bacterial biofilm architectures on the surfaces of stone fragments obtained due to lithotripsy, suggesting that bacteria are intrinsic to the process of nephrolithiasis. Crystallites proximal to biofilm layers exhibit significantly smaller grain sizes, which indicate a larger local concentration of nucleation sites. Staining reveals that biofilm areas of these stones are enriched with bacterial DNA. That bacteria are now observed so broadly in kidney stones (including even in less prevalent struvite stones) may be conceptually salient: Based on the evidence adduced here, we propose a model in which the urine-rich environment of the kidney can impinge on bacterial calcium homeostasis and amplify bacterial production of nucleation templates such as extracellular DNA. The resultant counterion condensation intrinsic to polyelectrolytes charged beyond the Manning criterion (such as DNA) drastically enhances the probability of heterogeneous nucleation, thereby amplifying calcium oxalate stone formation.
The Journal of Urology · 2026-04-27
articleSenior authorFrontiers in Education · 2026-01-21
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly limited access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline and enrichment opportunities for all students, but the impact was particularly profound for those historically underrepresented in these fields. These students often face structural barriers such as limited prior exposure to STEM, fewer mentorship opportunities, and socioeconomic challenges that restrict entry into STEM pathways. Given these barriers, securing continued access to pipeline programs during the pandemic was especially critical to maintain equity in STEM education. To contribute to the growing research base focused on evaluating the effectiveness of virtual and/or hybrid STEM enrichment programs, our team conducted a retrospective cohort study of a hybrid program led by the senior author, and hosted by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Department of Urology and the Ernest Everett Just Youth Science Program by the Bridge Builders Foundation in February 2022. In this program, twenty-four middle school and high school students participated in three separate 45-min interactive virtual lectures focused on general anatomy, the cardiovascular system, and the gastrointestinal system, along with an in-person dissection lab. Pre- and post-program surveys were completed by the students to assess their confidence in their abilities, their attitudes toward medical careers, and if they felt the medical field had a place for people of their background. Of the 24 participants, 63% identified as Black or African American and 16% identified as Latinx or Hispanic. Following the program, there were no statistically significant differences in students perceptions of their academic abilities or connectivity with physicians and medical students. However, there were noticeable differences in students’ survey responses, as well as in their excitement during the program. In the post-COVID-19 era, medical school programs and STEM programs focused on medicine should consider fully virtual and hybrid medical enrichment initiatives as a medium of positively encouraging middle school and high school students to pursue careers in medicine.
The Journal of Urology · 2026-01-13 · 1 citations
articlePURPOSE: We sought to develop and validate the Canadian Endourology Group Stent Symptom Score (CEGSSS), a short and concise Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire to assess the patient-reported impact of ureteral stents in patients with indwelling stents for < 2 weeks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used a rigorous 3-phase study design: phase 1: Prioritizing domains/items to be included in a minimal needs data set with the help of patient partners and experts. Phase 2: Pilot study of patients with ureteral stents evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of the CEGSSS. Phase 3: Multicentric, North American prospective study evaluating the validity and reliability of the CEGSSS. RESULTS: < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This 3-phase development, reliability, and validation study confirms the utility of a new ureteral stent symptoms questionnaire. The CEGSSS is a practical, user-friendly tool that is quicker to complete than the Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire.
UCF-19 PRACTICE PATTERNS IN NEPHROLITHIASIS MANAGEMENT AMONG CARIBBEAN UROLOGISTS
The Journal of Urology · 2025-04-08
articleThe Journal of Urology · 2025-04-08
articleThe Journal of Urology · 2025-04-08
articleJournal of Endourology · 2025-12-29
articleSenior authorPURPOSE: However, a more thorough understanding of the ingredients in OTC supplements marketed to treat nephrolithiasis is needed. These supplements are often bought online, given the substantial increase in online information and shopping in the past decade. Therefore, it is also important to evaluate public interest and the reliability of online information for these purportedly antilithogenic ingredients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The best-selling supplements marketed to treat kidney stones on Amazon.com were compiled to identify the most common ingredients. A literature review was completed to assess clinical support for common ingredients. BuzzSumo software was used to quantify online engagement with articles on each ingredient, as well as the overall topic of alternative treatments for kidney stones. Articles were evaluated for reliability using the DISCERN tool. Ion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to assess oxalate content in the most commonly found ingredients in OTC kidney stone supplements. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Evidence for stone prevention for the most common supplement ingredients was limited or lacking altogether, based on literature review. Public interest in supplement ingredients was between 2-fold and 10-fold greater than potassium citrate, a commonly prescribed stone prevention medication. Online articles for all ingredients showed poor reliability. Oxalate analysis showed chanca piedra, turmeric, and cinnamon contained 8.2, 8.6, and 14.0 mg oxalate per dose. These findings suggest that patients and providers should exercise caution while using OTC supplements for stone management, and that additional investigations of the composition and clinical efficacy of these ingredients are needed.
medRxiv · 2025-07-31
preprintOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingAbstract Introduction Patterns of dietary intake are known risk factors for both kidney stone formation and recurrence. 1,2 Dietary recommendations such as the Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet can reduce risk, 3,4 but patients may lack knowledge or a practical understanding on implementing these diet patterns. Virtual teaching kitchens have proven effective in improving dietary practices in other populations, but have not been applied to patients with kidney stones. 5,6 This study assessed the effectiveness of virtual teaching kitchen sessions in enhancing dietary confidence and practices for kidney stone prevention. Methods Eligible adults, aged 18 years and older, with a history of recurrent kidney stones were recruited to participate in one of two virtual teaching kitchen sessions. Pre-intervention surveys were administered to participants assessing individual cooking habits and dietary confidence. Post-intervention surveys assessed changes in cooking attitudes, dietary confidence, and program satisfaction. Results Forty-six participants completed both pre- and post-intervention surveys. Results showed significant improvements in enjoyment of trying new recipes, reduced frustration with cooking, and perceptions of home-cooked meals as both affordable and healthy. Participants also reported finding cooking less tiring and increased confidence in adopting key dietary practices, including reducing added sugar intake, choosing lean proteins, using spices instead of salt, consuming more fruits and vegetables, and controlling portion sizes (all p<0.05). Conclusions The virtual teaching kitchen intervention significantly improved participants’ confidence and attitudes toward adopting dietary practices essential for kidney stone prevention, highlighting its promise as an educational tool for patients.
Recent grants
NIH · $169k · 2010
Frequent coauthors
- 85 shared
Ben H. Chew
University of British Columbia
- 50 shared
Naeem Bhojani
Université de Montréal
- 49 shared
Seth K. Bechis
- 48 shared
Noah E. Canvasser
- 45 shared
Dirk Lange
University of British Columbia
- 42 shared
Roger L. Sur
- 42 shared
Vernon M. Pais
- 42 shared
Necole M. Streeper
Medical College of Wisconsin
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