Alicia A. McDonough, PhD, FAHA

A Professor of Physiology at Keck School of Medicine of USC, CA, Alicia McDonough, PhD, FAHA, is a research scientist in the field of cardiorenal physiology and hypertension. The McDonough lab addresses gaps in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of electrolyte homeostasis and control of blood pressure in the human body.

After earning degrees in Physiology at UC Berkeley (AB) and University of Hawaii (PhD), Alicia McDonough trained in Molecular Physiology at UC San Francisco CVRI and Columbia University before joining The USC Department of Physiology in 1981. As an AHA Established Investigator, her lab defined biosynthesis and assembly of sodium pump subunits and (patho)physiologic mechanisms controlling sodium pump isoforms across brain, heart, muscle and kidneys. They defined sodium pump isoform distributions in human hearts, how they changed in heart failure, and how skeletal muscle sodium pump isoforms control extra-renal potassium homeostasis.  She champions these findings to support the cardiovascular benefits of raising dietary K/Na ratio. 

Driven by a long-standing interest in the role of blood pressure in regulating sodium, potassium and circulating volume homeostasis, the lab group discovered that acute changes in blood pressure, AngII or PTH provoke rapid trafficking of renal sodium transporters between membrane domains.  With collaborators, they defined where and how chronic changes in salts, AngII, kidney injury, and immune cytokines increase renal sodium transport along the nephron and how the resultant hypertension provokes counteracting responses to suppress sodium reabsorption, i.e., pressure natriuresis, a determinant of the blood pressure set point.

More recently, the lab characterized functional sexual dimorphisms along the female vs. male nephron over life cycle, thus, shedding light on the “female advantage” in cardiovascular disease protection. These projects have attracted attention to the key role of the kidney in balancing the intertwined homeostasis of sodium, potassium and blood pressure.  Along with a strong service record to NIH, AHA, and editorial boards, Dr. McDonough has demonstrated commitment to teaching, training and mentoring the next generation of cardiorenal scientists.

Dr. McDonough is recipient of multiple society awards including an American Heart Association (AHA) Irvine Page & Alba Bradley Lifetime Achievement Award (2022), International Union of Physiological Scientists Robert Pitt Awardee (2022), the APS Epithelial Section Steven Hebert Lecture (2018), the Robert Schrier Lecture at ASN Kidney week (2017), the AHA Donald Seldin Lecture from the Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease (2014), the APS Starling Distinguished Lecture (2009), and the AHA Established Investigator Award (1984).

• MCG at Augusta University: Virendra B. Mahesh Lectureship, 2025
• American Heart Association Hypertension Council: Irvine Page & Alba Bradley Lifetime Achievement Award, 2022
• International Union of Physiological Scientists: Robert Pitts Awardee, 2022
• Case Western School of Medicine: Ulrich Hopfer Lectureship, 2019
• American Physiological Society Epithelial Transport Group: Steve Hebert Lecturer, 2018
• University of Southern California: Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award, 2018
• American Society of Nephrology: Robert W. Schrier Endowed Lectureship, 2017
• Medical College of Wisconsin: J.J. Smith Endowed Lecture, 2016
• American Heart Association KCVD Young Investigator Symposium: Keynote Speaker ASN Kidney Week, 2016
• Kansas State Univ. Veterinary Medicine: Clarenberg Distinguished Lecture, 2015
• American Heart Association Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease Council: Donald Seldin Lecture, 2014
• SUNY Buffalo: Suk Ki Hong Memorial Lecturer, 2010
• American Physiological Society: Ernest H. Starling Distinguished Lectureship, 2009
• Keck School of Medicine: Outstanding Teaching Awards: ’07, ’12, ’17, 2007
   – 2018
• American Heart Association: Established Investigator Award, 1984
   – 1989

• Renal electrolyte handling in females vs. males over life cycle
  NIH · 2R01DK083785-10A1 · Aug 29, 2022 – May 31, 2027 · Role: PI
• Renal sodium handling in hypertension: impact of age, sex, and dietary potassium
  NIH · R56DK123780 · Sep 14, 2020 – Aug 31, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Development of a new method for estimating potassium fluxes in vivo using stable potassium isotope ratios
  University Kidney Research Organization · Jun 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020 · Role: Co-Investigator
• The interleukin-1 receptor regulates crosstalk between myeloid and renal tubular cells in hypertension
  NIH · R01DK118019 · Mar 1, 2019 – Feb 28, 2023 · Role: Co-Investigator
• Impact of Diabetes on Renal Transporters in females and males
  NIH – DIACOMP (diabetes complications) · Mar 1, 2019 – Mar 1, 2020 · Role: PI – subcontract from DIACOMP
• Renal electrolyte handling in females vs. males over life cycle
  NIH · R01DK083785 · Apr 1, 2009 – May 31, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Regulation of Na-CI cotransporter (NCC) subcellular distribution in DCT
  NIH · R21HL085388 · Aug 1, 2006 – Jul 31, 2009 · Role: Principal Investigator
• EXTRA-RENAL REGULATION OF POTASSIUM HOMEOSTASIS
  NIH · R01DK057678 · May 1, 2001 – Feb 28, 2006 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Regulation of Sodium Transport in the Kidney
  NIH · R01DK034316 · Jul 1, 1984 – Mar 31, 2010 · Role: Principal Investigator
• REGULATION OF SODIUM PUMPS IN THE KIDNEY
  NIH · R01AM034316 · Jul 1, 1984 – Jun 30, 1987 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Fruit and veggies rich in potassium may be key to lowering blood pressure (04/07/2017)

• Bernstein, Kenneth
• Youn, Jang-Hyun
• Gurley, Susan
• Gill, Inderbir
• Kloner, Robert
• Peters, Anne