Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2010

Mentor: Fangming Lin, MD, PhD.
Department: Pediatrics
Room number: G3. 250
Mail Code: 9063
Phone number: 214-648-3438
E-mail: Fangming.lin@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Mechanism of Renal Injury and Repair

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Exempt

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 2008-0213

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)

Both animal-based research and basic research

Brief Description of Project:

Our laboratory is interested in cell biology of renal tubular injury and repair with a special focus on the development of stem cell-based therapy for kidney disease. Using genetic and surgical models of ischemic or obstructive injury to the mouse kidneys, we study epithelial survival and regeneration. Our approaches include animal survival surgery, stem cell isolation and reprogramming, molecular mechanisms of epithelial autophagy, and transgenic technologies. At the present time, we have the following projects:

1. Contribution of hematopoietic stem cells to renal repair after ischemic injury. Students may participate in the surgical creation of renal ischemic injury, stem cell transplantation, and examination of donor-derived cells in regenerating kidneys.

2. Induction of renal-like cells by epigenetic reprogramming of bone marrow stem cells. Students may participate in the in vitro reprogramming of bone marrow stem cells and analysis of phenotype and gene expression profiling of reprogrammed cells.

3. Use of human umbilical cord-blood derived stem cells to treat kidney disease. Students may assist stem cell isolation, culture and transplantation, and examination of renal structural and functional recovery.

4. Role of epithelial autophagy in obstructive uropathy. Students will learn to obstruct the ureter and then reverse the obstruction to create a renal injury and repair model in mice. Kidneys will be examined with electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology techniques to study the role autophagy in tubular survival and repair.

Students will be mentored to a level appropriate for their research experiences. Students will work closely with technicians and postdoctoral fellows to learn new techniques and will meet with day on a daily basis to discuss the project. It is anticipated that results of the summer research will lead to an abstract or incorporate into a publication.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

I have not had any medical students for summer research in the past.