UT Southwestern O’Brien Kidney Research Core Center

(NIH Grant number: P30DK079328)

The overall goal of the UT Southwestern O’Brien Kidney Research Core Center is to promote bidirectional interactions between basic scientists and clinical researchers that will enhance our understanding of kidney development and pathophysiology and result in more effective treatments of kidney diseases and their complications.

This goal will be achieved through the creation of new animal models of kidney diseases and the development of core facilities that will enable physician-scientists who are conducting basic research to more easily translate their findings to humans. Conversely, clinical investigators who are studying patients with renal diseases will identify molecular and genetic abnormalities that can then be studied to derive new insights into disease pathogenesis and treatment.

To achieve these goals, the Center will support five Biomedical Research Cores, a Pilot & Feasibility Program, and an Educational Enrichment Program.

The Biomedical Research Cores are:

The Cores will support ongoing, kidney-related research conducted at UT Southwestern, the North Texas region, nationally, and internationally. The research base consists of 41 externally funded investigators who are conducting basic research in the areas of kidney physiology & cell biology, injury & inflammation, developmental biology & molecular genetics, and renal cystic diseases. Clinical/translational research is conducted in the areas of acute & chronic kidney disease, kidney & cardiovascular disease, and electrolyte & mineral metabolism.

The Pilot and Feasibility Program will support two grants per year for investigators who are new to the field.

The Educational Enrichment Program will include a research seminar, annual symposium, training grants, and courses offered by a new Dept. of Clinical Sciences.

By strengthening existing collaborations and attracting outside investigators, the Center will promote new multidisciplinary approaches to understanding the causes and treatment of renal diseases.

The overall organization of the UTSW O’Brien Kidney Center and the relationship between the biomedical research cores and the basic and clinical/translational kidney research programs is shown below:

Representative Journal Articles:

Baber U, de Lemos JA, Khera A, et al. Non-traditional risk factors predict coronary calcification in chronic kidney disease in a population-based cohort.  Kidney Int advance on-line publication, 12 December 2007.

Baba M, Furihata M, Hong S-B, et al. Kidney-Targeted Birt-Hogg-Dube Gene Inactivation in a Mouse Model: Erk1/2 and Akt-mTOR Activation, Cell Hyperproliferation, and Polycystic Kidneys.  J Natl Cancer Inst  100:140-154, 2008.

Ma Zhendong, Gong Y, Patel V, et al. Mutationis of HNF-1B inhibit epithelial morphogenesis through dysregulation of SOCS-3, PNAS, 104: 20386-20391, 2007.

Makita R, Uchijima Y, Nishiyama K et al. Multiple Renal Cysts, Urinary Concentration Defects, and Pulmonary Emphysematous Changes in Mice Lacking TAZ. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, Article in Press.

Updated:  April 18, 2008  Maintained by Dedrian Copeland