Research

Dr. Michal Melamed and Dr. Matthew Abramowitz are examining whether the treatment of metabolic acidosis improves bone disease and impacts cardiovascular risk in patients with kidney disease. Dr. Matthew Abramowitz investigates the contribution of obesity and metabolic dysfunction to the development of metabolic acidosis.

Dr. Maria Coco is an expert in bone biopsy. She studies bone disease in patients with chronic kidney disease including transplant recipients.

Dr. Tanya Johns examines the factors that contribute to poor health outcomes and models of care to improve health in all populations.

The impact of residential community on outcomes of patients with kidney disease is also the focus of the research efforts by Dr. Ladan Golestaneh who used the DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study) cohort to examine association of US hemodialysis patient outcomes with community linked socio-demographic variables.

Dr. Michael Ross is performing basic, translational, and clinical studies focused upon: 1) novel mechanisms by which antiretroviral medications protect the kidneys from HIV-induced injury and exploring their efficacy in other forms of kidney disease; 2) molecular mechanisms by which polymorphisms in the Apolipoprotein L1 gene dramatically increase the risk of HIV-associated nephropathy and other forms of kidney disease; 3) factors associated with increased risk of CKD in persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Impaired physical function and frailty frequently affect patients with kidney disease, reducing quality of life and contributing to falls and hospitalizations. Dr. Matthew Abramowitz’s research focuses on understanding the underlying causes of physical function impairment and developing therapeutic interventions.

Dr. Victor Schuster studies renal transport mechanisms and action of prostaglandins using cell biologic techniques and animal models.

Dr. Joel Neugarten examines the role of sex in acute kidney injury and the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Dr. Enver Akalin’s research interest is understanding the mechanisms of allograft injury using gene expression profiles. He is the first investigator who applied microarray technology in kidney transplant recipients. He has had involved in multiple NIH studies and currently has multiple active grants. He involved in more than 30 multicenter clinical trials as a site principal investigator.

Patients with chronic kidney disease often have vascular calcification—mineral deposits in the vessels that contribute to cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death among patients with kidney disease. Dr. Wei Chen studies risk factors and develops biomarkers for vascular calcification using bench-to-bedside translational approach.