Research

Focused on cutting-edge, disease-focused, multidisciplinary basic and translational research

We are proud to announce the recent opening of the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center, located on the 5th and 6th floors of the Mudd Memorial Research Building on the Keck School of Medicine campus. Under the direction of Kenneth R. Hallows, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension , the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center will focus on cutting-edge, disease-focused, multidisciplinary basic and translational research on the causes of and treatments for kidney diseases with a particular focus on the areas of acute kidney injury, kidney regeneration and repair, polycystic kidney disease and other chronic kidney diseases, hypertension, acid-base regulation and kidney cancer.

Faculty Research Areas

Vito M. Campese, MD
Interactions between the Kidney and the Central Noradrenergic Control of Blood Pressure
Microalbuminuria in Essential Hypertension
Role of Aldosterone in the Progression of CKD
Role of Dyslipidemia in the Progression of CKD
Renal Denervation in the Management of Resistant Hypertension

1. Bigazzi R, Zagato L, Lanzani C, Fontana S, Messaggio E, Delli Carpini S, Citterio L, Simonini M, Brioni E, Magnaghi C, Colombo GI, Santini G, Nistri F, Cellai F, Lenti S, Bianchi S, Pertosa GB, Rocchetti MT, Papale M, Mezzolla V, Gesualdo L, Pina Concas M, Campese V, Manunta P. Hypertension in High School Students: Genetic and Environmental Factors: The HYGEF Study. Hypertension. 2020 Jan;75(1):71-78. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.13818. Epub 2019 Nov 25. PMID: 31760884
2. Wei J, Johansen KL, McCulloch CE, Lipkowitz M, Weir M, Lin F, Campese VM, Smogorzewski M, Ku E. Association Between APOL1 Genotype and Need for Kidney Replacement Therapy in Patients Without Diabetes: Does Age Matter? Am J Kidney Dis. 2020 Feb;75(2):294-296. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2019.08.017. Epub 2019 Dec 16. PMID: 31837887

Arshia Ghaffari, DO
Home Dialysis Modalities: Benefits and Cost
Management of Glomerular Diseases
Optimizing Clinical Outcomes in Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis
Urgent Start Peritoneal Dialysis
Effect of Hemodialysis on Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Optimal Practices in Managing Kidney Stones

Kenneth R. Hallows, MD, PhD
Regulation of the CFTR chloride channel by AMPK
Regulation of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) by AMPK
Regulation of AMPK function by CFTR in polarized airway epithelial cells
Regulation of Nedd4-2 by kinases
Regulation of other ion transport proteins by AMPK
AMPK activation by metformin as a novel therapeutic strategy for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
Role of AMPK in acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD)

1. Saitta B, Jalili MF, Zohoorkari H, Rao R, Hallows KR, Baty CJ, Pastor-Soler NM. Ex vivo kidney slice preparations as a model system to study signaling cascades in kidney epithelial cells. Methods Cell Biol. 2019;153:185-203. doi: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2019.04.017. PMID: 31395379
2. Ho PY, Li H, Cheng L, Bhalla V, Fenton RA, Hallows KR. AMPK phosphorylation of the β1Pix exchange factor regulates the assembly and function of an ENaC inhibitory complex in kidney epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2019 Dec 1;317(6):F1513-F1525. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00592.2018. Epub 2019 Sep 30. PMID: 31566435
3. Jia J, Bissa B, Brecht L, Allers L, Choi SW, Gu Y, Zbinden M, Burge MR, Timmins G, Hallows K, Behrends C, Deretic V. AMPK, a Regulator of Metabolism and Autophagy, Is Activated by Lysosomal Damage via a Novel Galectin-Directed Ubiquitin Signal Transduction System. Mol Cell. 2020 Mar 5;77(5):951-969.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.12.028. Epub 2020 Jan 28. PMID: 31995728
4. Jin K, Ma Y, Manrique-Caballero CL, Li H, Emlet DR, Li S, Baty CJ, Wen X, Kim-Campbell N, Frank A, Menchikova EV, Pastor-Soler NM, Hallows KR, Jackson EK, Shiva S, Pinsky MR, Zuckerbraun BS, Kellum JA, Gómez H. Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase during sepsis/inflammation improves survival by preserving cellular metabolic fitness. FASEB J. 2020 May;34(5):7036-7057. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901900R. Epub 2020 Apr 4. PMID: 32246808

Elaine M. Kaptein, MD
Inferior Vena Cava Ultrasound to Assess Intravascular Volume and Response to Ultrafiltration
Vitamin D Deficiency and Effects of Treatment in CKD
Diagnosing Adrenocortical Insufficiency in Critically Ill Patients
Thyroid Hormone and Iodine Metabolism in Health and Disease and in Renal Failure Patients

1. Kaptein, M.J., Kaptein, J.S., Nguyen, C.D, Oo, Z., Thwe, P.P, Thu, M.B., Kaptein, E.M. Changes in cardiac output with hemodialysis relate to net volume balance and to inferior vena cava ultrasound collapsibility in critically ill patients. Renal Failure 2020;42(1): 179-192. doi:10.1080/0886022X.2020.1726384, PMID: 32050836

Mitra K. Nadim, MD
Acute Renal Failure in Patients with Liver Failure
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Renovascular Disease

1. Angeli P, Garcia-Tsao G, Nadim MK, Parikh CR.J News in pathophysiology, definition and classification of hepatorenal syndrome: A step beyond the International Club of Ascites (ICA) consensus document. Hepatology. 2019 Oct;71(4):811-822. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.07.002. Epub 2019 Jul 11. PMID: 31302175 Review.
2. Asrani SK, Jennings LW, Kim WR, Kamath PS, Levitsky J, Nadim MK, Testa G, Leise MD, Trotter JF, Klintmalm G. MELD-GRAIL-Na: Glomerular Filtration Rate and Mortality on Liver-Transplant Waiting List. Hepatology. 2020 May;71(5):1766-1774. doi: 10.1002/hep.30932. Epub 2020 Jan 29. PMID: 31523825
3. Silver SA, Nadim MK, O’Donoghue DJ, Wilson FP, Kellum JA, Mehta RL, Ronco C, Kashani K, Rosner MH, Haase M, Lewington AJP Community Health Care Quality Standards to Prevent Acute Kidney Injury and Its Consequences. Am J Med. 2020 May;133(5):552-560.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.10.038. Epub 2019 Dec 10. PMID: 31830434 Review.

Saeid M. Nosrati, MD
Chronic Renal Failure
Renal Osteodystrophy
Anemia
Proteinuria
Hypercoagulopathy Related to Nephritic Syndrome

Thin Thin Maw, MD
Kidney and pancreas transplant
Outcomes of Live donors
Antibody mediated rejection
Biomarkers in kidney transplant
Recurrent glomerulonephritis in post kidney transplant recipients
Malignancies in post-transplant recipients
Onco-nephrology

Nuria M. Pastor-Soler, MD, PhD
Regulation of the vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) in the male reproductive tract
Regulation of Na+ transport in the collecting duct by bicarbonate-regulated sAC
Regulation of the V-ATPase in the kidney collecting duct and proximal tubule by PKA and AMPK
Regulation of the V-ATPase by Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) in kidney and breast malignancies
Regulation of Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) by AMPK in the Kidney Collecting Duct
Regulation of Epithelial Transport Proteins in Sepsis-induced AKI
Regulation of Muc-1 in Kidney Epithelial Cells
Regulation of Kidney Epithelial Apical Endocytosis by Flow
Renal Salt Transport Regulation by WNK Kinases

1. Rao R, Bhalla V, Pastor-Soler NM. Intercalated Cells of the Kidney Collecting Duct in Kidney Physiology. Semin Nephrol. 2019 Jul;39(4):353-367. doi: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2019.04.005. PMID: 31300091
2. Saitta B, Jalili MF, Zohoorkari H, Rao R, Hallows KR, Baty CJ, Pastor-Soler NM. Ex vivo kidney slice preparations as a model system to study signaling cascades in kidney epithelial cells. Methods Cell Biol. 2019;153:185-203. doi: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2019.04.017. PMID: 31395379
3. Jin K, Ma Y, Manrique-Caballero CL, Li H, Emlet DR, Li S, Baty CJ, Wen X, Kim-Campbell N, Frank A, Menchikova EV, Pastor-Soler NM, Hallows KR, Jackson EK, Shiva S, Pinsky MR, Zuckerbraun BS, Kellum JA, Gómez H. Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase during sepsis/inflammation improves survival by preserving cellular metabolic fitness. FASEB J. 2020 May;34(5):7036-7057. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901900R. Epub 2020 Apr 4. PMID: 32246808

Yasir A. Qazi, MD
Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate in the Transplanted Kidney
Neopterin as a Marker of BK Virus Nephropathy

1. Berger SP, Sommerer C, Witzke O, Tedesco H, Chadban S, Mulgaonkar S, Qazi Y, de Fijter JW, Oppenheimer F, Cruzado JM, Watarai Y, Massari P, Legendre C, Citterio F, Henry M, Srinivas TR, Vincenti F, Gutierrez MPH, Marti AM, Bernhardt P, Pascual J; TRANSFORM investigators. Two-year outcomes in de novo renal transplant recipients receiving everolimus-facilitated calcineurin inhibitor reduction regimen from the TRANSFORM study. Am J Transplant. 2019 Nov;19(11):3018-3034. doi: 10.1111/ajt.15480. Epub 2019 Jul 1. PMID: 31152476
2. Stites E, Kumar D, Olaitan O, John Swanson S, Leca N, Weir M, Bromberg J, Melancon J, Agha I, Fattah H, Alhamad T, Qazi Y, Wiseman A, Gupta G. High levels of dd-cfDNA identify patients with TCMR 1A and borderline allograft rejection at elevated risk of graft injury. Am J Transplant. 2020 Feb 13. doi: 10.1111/ajt.15822. PMID: 32056331
3. Hogen R, Kim M, Lee Y, Lo M, Kaur N, Kahn J, Chopra S, Qazi Y, Sedra A, Kim J, O’Brien L, Genyk Y, Sher L, Emamaullee J. Liver Transplantation in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in the United States. J Surg Res. 2020 Jun 12;255:23-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.05.015. PMID: 32540577

Miroslaw J. Smogorzewski, MD, PhD
Effect of Elevated Cytosolic Calcium on Cell Function
Mechanisms of Heart Hypertrophy in Chronic Renal Failure
Mechanisms Underlying the Uremic Syndrome
Pancreatic Islets Transplantation for Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy
Role of Excess PTH in the Genesis of Uremia
Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis in African- Americans (AASK Study)
History of Nephrology
BK Nephropathy in Post-Transplant Kidney

1. Adler BL, Smogorzewski J, Sierro T, Shauly O, Osipchuk D, Miller M, Mert M, Fong MW, Ganesh S, Han H, In GK, Maw TT, Smogorzewski M, Hu J, Ngo B, Lee D, Ahronowitz I. Skin cancer and dermatoses in a majority-Hispanic population of solid organ transplant recipients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Aug;83(2):607-610. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.07.099. Epub 2019 Aug 7. PMID: 31400454
2. Ku E, Sarnak MJ, Toto R, McCulloch CE, Lin F, Smogorzewski M, Hsu CY. Effect of Blood Pressure Control on Long-Term Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease and Death Among Subgroups of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019 Aug 20;8(16):e012749. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.012749. Epub 2019 Aug 14. PMID: 31411082
3. Wei J, Johansen KL, McCulloch CE, Lipkowitz M, Weir M, Lin F, Campese VM, Smogorzewski M, Ku E. Association Between APOL1 Genotype and Need for Kidney Replacement Therapy in Patients Without Diabetes: Does Age Matter? Am J Kidney Dis. 2020 Feb;75(2):294-296. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2019.08.017. Epub 2019 Dec 16. PMID: 31837887

Eugene Lin, MD

1. Lin E, Chertow GM, Bhattacharya J, Lakdawalla D. Early Delays in Insurance Coverage and Long-term Use of Home-based Peritoneal Dialysis. Med Care. 2020;58(7):632-642. doi:10.1097/MLR.0000000000001350
2. Cheng J, Kim J, Bieber SD, Lin E. Four years into MACRA: What has changed? Semin Dial. 2020;33(1):26-34. doi:10.1111/sdi.12852
3. Glickman A, Lin E, Berns JS. Conflicts of interest in dialysis: A barrier to policy reforms. Semin Dial. 2020;33(1):83-89. doi:10.1111/sdi.12848
4. Erickson KF, Lin E, Winkelmayer WC. The dialysis care-policy issue: Guest Editors’ introductory remarks. Semin Dial. 2020;33(1):4. doi:10.1111/sdi.12859
5. Khine A, Lin E. What the Comprehensive ESRD Care Program Tells Us About the Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative. Am J Kidney Dis. Published online June 17, 2020. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2020.05.011

Biagio Saitta, PhD

1. Bougioukli S, Saitta B, Sugiyama O, Tang AH, Elphingstone J, Evseenko, D, Lieberman JR. Lentiviral gene therapy for bone repair using human umbilical cord blood cells. Hum. Gene Ther. 30: 906-917, 2019. PMID: 30773946.
2. Saitta B, Jalili MF, Zohoorkari H, Rao R, Hallows KR, Baty CJ, Pastor-Soler NM. Ex Vivo Kidney Slice Preparations as a Model System to Study Signaling Cascades in Kidney Epithelial Cells. Methods Cell Biol. 153, 185-203, 2019. PMID: 31395379.

Sapna Shah
Neeraj Sharma
Santhi Voora