Medical College of Wisconsin Nephrology Research

One area of laboratory research focuses on ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI), with goals to: (i) translate laboratory discoveries in AKI to clinical medicine, and (ii) perform experiments that further explore questions generated at the bedside. Current projects are aimed at: (i) the development of new therapies to prevent or treat AKI based on an understanding of the genetic, physiologic, and molecular mechanisms that underlie the ischemic kidney injury, and (ii) evaluation of the long-term effects of acute renal ischemia.

• Basic Needs Navigation Intervention to Address Multidimensional Adversity in African Americans with Diabetic Kidney Disease (R21DK131356)
• Mixed-Methods Study of Multidimensional Adversity in Inner-City African American Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (K23MD016448)

The overarching goal of these studies is to improve health and health outcomes of vulnerable high-risk populations through innovative interventions that account for the unique challenges of African Americans adults with Diabetic Kidney Disease. In addition, our research is focused on elimination of health disparities including understanding the interplay of social determinants of health, social risk factors, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors in African American adults with chronic kidney disease.

We have a research program aimed at improving outcomes for older patients with advanced kidney disease and on dialysis. Current studies include investigating changes in cerebral perfusion during hemodialysis and how vascular stiffness may affect cognition. We focus on patient-centered outcomes of cognition and physical function.

NIH funding supports multiple projects focused on cell signaling as related to pathobiology of kidney disease. Research is primarily focused on characterizing the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation and termination of signaling pathways, as well as defining the cellular consequences of specific stimulation of these cascades in systems relevant for the signaling from G-protein coupled receptors. The mechanisms underlying the loss of renal vascular autoregulation in hypertension-induced nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy became the focus of recent studies.

The Division of Nephrology has been involved in many multi-site trails for novel kidney therapeutics. Some of our recent and current trials are centered on treatment for IgA nephropathy, polycystic kidney disease. membranous nephropathy and diabetic kidney disease. We have a robust clinical trials office that supports the regulatory work and participant recruitment and completion of study procedures.