University Of Rochester Medical Center

Adult Nephrology

David A. Bushinsky, M.D.
Professor of Medicine and of Pharmacology and Physiology; Division Chief, Nephrology

• Dr. Bushinsky studies the effects of protons on bone mineral homeostasis using the techniques of molecular biology, organ and cell culture. Recent studies are directed to the examination of the interface between the bone cell and the mineral using a high resolution scanning ion microprobe and measurement of gene expression. A second line of investigation involves determining the mechanism(s) of hypercalciuria in an inbred strain of hypercalciuric rats through measurement of 1,25(OH)2D3, PTH, arterial blood ionized calcium and intestinal calcium absorption. Clinical studies involve the use of 1,25(OH)2D3 in end stage renal disease and the mechanisms of Ca++ induced cardiac contractility.

• Dr. Bose studies immune regulation and tolerance as mediated by T lymphocytes. Recent studies have been directed at elucidating the role of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and the cytolytic molecule perforin in antigen specific tolerance and T cell memory.

• Dr. Demme has a keen interest in the medical humanities, as well as nephrology. While he is involved with clinical trials of medications, he is also interested in health care ethics consultation, end -of- life decision making, ethical issues in transplantation, medical history, therapeutic uses of humor, and use of internet resources in medical education. He chairs the Strong Memorial Hospital Ethics Committee.

• Role of pro-resorptive cytokines in acid-induced bone calcium efflux.
  Alterations in gene expression induced by metabolic acidosis.
• Mechanism by which specific transcriptional events are modulated by external pH.
• Role of G-protein coupled proton-sensing receptors in transducing environmental pH into modulating osteoblastic activity.

Daniel Gray , M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor

Matthew Gross, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Co-Director Peritoneal Dialysis

• Dr. Gross is the Medical Director of the Peritoneal Dialysis Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital. He has a stong interest in clinical nephrology, particularly the treatment of glomerulonephritis.

Nancy S. Krieger, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor of Medicine and of Pharmacology and Physiology

• Dr. Krieger's research interests involve understanding regulation of skeletal calcium homeostasis at the cellular and molecular level. She studies the effects of calcium regulating hormones and protons in a system of developing mouse bone, using in vitro culture of neonatal mouse calvaria, primary cell cultures isolated from these bones and osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell lines. One question being addressed is the signal transduction pathways involved in cell-mediated effects of acidosis on bone compared with the response to PTH, including MAP kinase and PI 3-kinase pathways. Most recent studies involve characterization of specific prostaglandin synthesis mediating acidosis-induced bone resorption. Collaboration studies with Dr. David Bushinsky involve projects related to understanding proton-mediated bone dissolution and the molecular basis for the genetic defect in the regulation of vitamin D receptors in a strain of hypercalciuric, stone-forming rats.

Scott E. Liebman, M.D. 
Assistant Professor of Medicine

• Dr. Liebman has a stong interest in clinical nephrology, particularly in peritoneal dialysis and care of the renal transplant patient

Rebeca D. Monk, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of Nephrolithiasis Clinic and Nephrology Director Nephrology Fellowship Program

• Dr. Monk's main interest is nephrolithiasis, especially the formation of kidney stones and their treatment. In addition, Dr. Monk is involved in several clinical studies, that include, a controlled trial of intravenous iron dextran therapy in restless legs syndrome, hypomagnesemia and renal magnesium wasting in renal transplant recipients on tacrolimus, and use of citrate as an anticoagulant for CVVH.

• Dr. Nehrke's laboratory studies integrative physiology in the nematode C. elegans. Integrative physiology is a process geared toward the deconvolution of how underlying pathways of information flow from individual cells through increasingly complex levels of systemic organization. Our goal is to define how the genes and proteins involved in specific physiological processes affect the functional interaction of organelles, cells, tissues, and organs. At present, we are focused on two essential questions: first, how does acid-base transport in the intestine affect nutrient absorption and the resulting cell signaling cascades that co-ordinate cell growth with nutritional conditions and, second, how can a mechanosensitive calcium channel mutated in dominant autosomal polycystic kidney disease regulate male mating behavior in the worm?
• Link to Lab website

• Dr. Reddy's interests include care of the pre-ESRD patients, chronic hemodialysis, and clinical research includes Anemia Management in CKD, improving peritoneal dialysis patients and hemodialysis patients care. She is the Medical Director of the Strong dialysis and Assistant Medical director of Medina and Batavia hemodialysis units.

• Dr. Taylor interests include care of the post-renal transplant recipient and clinical research in renal transplantation and hemodialysis.

Martin S. Zand, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Medical Humanities
Medical Director - Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Programs
Co-Director - University of Rochester Center for Biodefense Immune Modeling

• Dr. Zand's research program is focused the role of B cells in alloimmune responses in solid organ transplantation. Current work is focused on induction of B cell apoptosis by polyclonal anti-thymocyte antibodies and the pathways by which this occurs. A second project in the laboratory is focused on developing in vitro systems to plasma cell differentiation. The goal of this research is to develop a strategy for determining if an individual patient has long-lived B cell memory against donor specific HLA antigens. Dr. Zand also studies the kinetics of B cell and T cell memory using computer modeling of immune responses. In addition to his laboraotory work, Dr. Zand is the principal investigator in several clinical studies in renal transplantation. Dr. Zand also has ongoing work in clinical medical ethics, especially issues related to transplantation.
• Link to Lab Website

Highland Hospital

Adult Nephrology

Melissa Schiff, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine Director Nephrology Division, Highland Hospital

Madhavendra Dhakal, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor

James Sload, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Director of Nephrology Division, Highland Hospital Co-Director Peritoneal Dialysis

Craig Kaplan, M.D.
Associate Professor

University Of Rochester Medical Center

Pediatric and Adolescent Nephrology

George J. Schwartz, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine; Chief, Division of Pediatric Nephrology

• Dr. Schwartz has long been interested in the regulation of acid-base transport in the kidney, particularly focusing on the effects of metabolic acidosis on proton secretion by cortical and medullary collecting ducts. He has also investigated the maturation of acid-base transport in the developing kidney through the study of differential gene and protein expression as well as tubular transport. More recent studies have examined the role of membrane-bound carbonic anhydrases in facilitating proton secretion, as well as their localization in the kidney, basic biochemistry and biogenesis of its carbonic anhydrase polarity on epithelial membranes.

• Dr. Erkan's research interests involve laboratory studies to identify the mechanisms that lead to tubular cell apoptosis and inflammation as a response to proteinuria.

• Dr. Lande's research has focused on the behavioral aspects of pediatric kidney disease and on the treatment of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. More recent efforts are directed toward early detection of end-organ damage in pediatric hypertension.

• Dr. Varade studies the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable gene family usage in normal and autoimmune states. He is interested in the immunopathogenesis of glomerulonephritis, in particular, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.