Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2009

Mentor: Robert D. Toto
Department: Internal Medicine
Room number: St. Paul POBII, Room 713
Mail Code: 8856
Phone number: 214 645 8268
E-mail: Robert.toto@utsouthwestern.edu
Project I title: Novel biomarkers for predicting response in diabetic nephropathy

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Patient-based.

Brief Description of Project:

Discover urinary biomarkers that predict response to treatment with drugs in patients with kidney disease attributed to diabetes.

Project II title: Klotho, a novel protein for predicting progression of chronic kidney disease

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A yet

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Not applicable

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Translational.

Brief Description of Project:
The broad long-term goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that serum or urine levels of the novel single transmembrane protein, klotho (discovered at UTSW by Dr. Makoto Kuro-o) is a predictor of onset and progression of kidney disease. Klotho is synthesized and expressed in the kidney and circulates in the plasma. In the kidney klotho functions as both a coreceptor for fibroblast growth factor in the proximal tubule of the kidney where it regulates both phosphate transport and vitamin D synthesis, and the calcium channel TRP6 (transient receptor potential 6). Preliminary studies in both animals and humans suggest that chronic kidney disease is a state of klotho deficiency. This study will utilize serum and urine from newly recruited normal subjects and patients with various forms of chronic kidney disease as well as banked blood and urine samples from patients enrolled in long-term outcomes trial of chronic kidney disease to test the hypothesis. Students can be involved in patient recruitment, study design, laboratory and statistical methods necessary to conduct the study. Comentors can include an interdisciplinary group of translational scientists who are experts in the field.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

See other posted study

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Clinical trials in diabetic nephropathy
Blood pressure control in diabetes
Potassium regulation in patients with kidney disease and diabetes
Human urine proteome projects