The Division of Nephrology and Hypertension has a large and diverse research program that includes clinical and basic science investigations.

Areas of research

• Progressive diabetic nephropathy
• Bartter's and Gitelman's syndromes and hereditary salt wasting
• Pathogenesis of edematous disorders
• Osmotic control of kidney cell function
• Fetal origins of adult hypertension and cardiovascular and renal disease
• Developmental regulation of angiotensin receptors
• Prevention and treatment of kidney transplant rejection
• Mechanisms of gender differences in perinatal programming for adult disease
• Molecular basis of hypertension (familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension)
• Depression and quality of life in ESRD patients
• Polycystic kidney disease

In addition to the aforementioned research components, an active Clinical Study group, comprising several study coordinators, all employed by the Division, assist nephrology investigative efforts.

Funding

Funding is provided by a variety of public and private sources, including an NIH Nephrology Training Grant. Other sources include the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disease, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and National Institute of Child Health & Human Development); VA Merit Review and Cooperative Studies research grant programs; American Heart Association (national and northwest affiliates); Polycystic Kidney Research Foundation; March of Dimes; industry; and other national and local research foundations.

Facilities

Research space has been designated for division use at OHSU in the Medical Research Building, the Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Transplantation, and the Basic Science Building. Substantial laboratory space is also allocated for nephrology research at the VAMC.

Research facilities include the OHSU General Clinical Research Center (GCRC), which since 1966 has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. The GCRC has approximately 120 active protocols, over half of which are currently admitting patients in human research studies encompassing a wide variety of disease states, as well as physiologic and pharmacologic investigations in normal subjects. The GCRC serves as a teaching resource with more than 100 fellows, interns and residents, and medical, nursing and dietetic students rotating through the unit each year. For fellows interested in clinical research, the new Oregon Human Investigations Program provides a 2-year training program leading to a Certificate of Training in Human Investigation.