Areas of Research | Division of Nephrology | UC Davis Health

Professor of Medicine

Understanding molecular mechanisms of diabetic kidney disease.

Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Chancellor’s Fellow, UC Davis

Strives to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying human diseases and thereby identify useful biomarkers and druggable targets in a broad range of malignancies.

Health Sciences Clinical Professor
Interim Chief of Nephrology

Clinical nephrology. Hemodialysis vascular access, including longitudinal changes in grafts and fistulae. Acute care hemodialysis modalities and strategies for anticoagulation in ICU dialysis. Hemodynamic and cardiovascular changes during hemodialysis.

Biochemistry and pathogenesis of uremia including identification and measurement of potential toxins. Renal tubular transport in the diseased kidney.  Assessment of dose and adequacy of renal replacement therapy.  Mathematical modeling of hemodialysis solute kinetics.  Monitors of vascular access blood flow in hemodialyzed patients. Population studies of outcome including survival in patients with advanced kidney disease.

Current Research and Clinical Trials Programs 

Professor Nephrology

The pathophysiology of the accelerated vascular calcification and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and studying potential therapies including use of specific anti-cytokine agents.  Measurement of the extra-osseous calcium burden in patients with chronic kidney disease.  Pathophysiology of the dyslipidemia in patients with CKD.

Professor Emeritus

Human studies exploring the relationship between nutrition as measured by the level of serum albumin, prealbumin (transthyretin) transferrin, and body composition, inflammation and cardiovascular and overall outcomes and mortality in dialysis patients.  I am responsible for creating a biorepository for the USRDS Nutrition special study and for measuring a number of biomarkers from samples obtained in order to relate them to body composition and clinical outcomes.  My research also focuses on lipoprotein levels, structure and function as it pertains to renal disease both in humans and in experimental animal models.  These have been focuses of my research for over 20 years.

Animal studies have involved the relationship between urinary protein loss and plasma protein and lipoprotein composition.  My research has resulted in approximately 200 peer reviewed publications. 

Clinical Professor
Medical Director, Nephrology Clinics

Acute kidney injury in ICU, Renal complications of cancer, Measurements of renal function, Glomerulonephritis, Cardiovascular outcomes with peritoneal dialysis.

Health Sciences Clinic Professor
Director of Ambulatory Kidney Care Services, Outreach and Innovation
Faculty Lead, School of Medicine Admissions

Clinical Nephrology and Home Dialysis Modalities.  Hemodialysis outcomes by Ethnicity and Race.  Chronic Kidney Disease and Prevention.

Associate Professor of Medicine

Translational research investigating the links between altered metabolism in chronic kidney disease with muscle function and physical functioning.

Nephrology researchers shining a light on chronic kidney disease

Professor Emeritus

Molecular biology of signal transduction in vascular, kidney, and cancer cells with special emphasis on growth inhibitory mechanisms.  Role of the cyclins and cyclin inhibitors in cell growth and apoptosis, and metabolomics and proteomics of cancer and kidney disease.

Current research

Health Sciences Clinical Professor

Inflammatory blockage of albumin synthesis and erythropoiesis in dialysis patients; hyperhomocysteinemia in dialysis patients; role of homocysteine in atherogenesis in dialysis patients; emphasis on clinical studies.

Professor, Division of Transplant Nephrology

Mechanisms of progression of chronic renal disease; delayed graft function.