ReSearch Contributions, solutions, and discovery

The division has a long history of major contributions to the field of nephrology, heralded by the introduction of physiologically based solutions to treat sports-related dehydration and cholera by the late Dr. Robert Cade (former Chief), leading to the invention of Gatorade and the invention of an industry; the discovery of one of the major cell types in the kidney involved in the excretion of body acids by Dr. CC Tisher (former Chief and past Dean); and research focused on identifying the cause and future cure of essential hypertension (R. J. Johnson).

Current Research

Current research includes identification of a novel of ammonia transporter (D. Weiner) and understanding its role in acid-base regulation, stone disease, hepatic encephalopathy and fertility; identification of critical transport mechanisms involved in kidney acid potassium regulation (C. Wingo); studies to prevent hypertension and kidney disease in African Americans (M. Segal, R. Johnson, and CC Tisher), ways to predict and prevent rejection of the kidney transplant (S. Rehman), and understanding the mechanism of increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease and lupus (M. Segal); the circadian effects on sodium excretion and hypertension (M. Gumz); the role of uric acid in the development of diabetes (Y. Sautin); mechanisms of the development and prevention of acute kidney injury (A. Ejaz); and de-novo kidney generation from a kidney scaffold and stem cells (E. Ross); the role of pregnancy hormones in the vascular changes that occur during pregnancy (M. Segal).

The Division boasts over 1 million dollars direct yearly support by the NIH and other institutions with over 30 publications per year.

Visiting Professors

Members of the division have been invited to give state of the art lectures across the globe and the division also brings the leaders in nephrology from around the world to serve as the J. Robert Cade Visiting Professor in Internal Medicine, as well as the C. Craig Tisher Visiting Professor.