Chronic kidney disease from diabetic nephropathy results in unacceptably high rates of death and end stage renal disease clinically. Dr. Kelly's research focuses on the mechanisms of progressive injury to the kidney in a model of type II diabetes/obesity characterized by renal failure, the sine qua non of human diabetic nephropathy. The hypotheses that blocking inflammation and apoptosis will improve kidney function are being tested. The work employs novel powerful techniques including intravital and quantitative confocal microscopy. In addition, innovative cytotherapy techniques have been used to treat established renal failure in multiple animals using transplanted cells derived from a single organ. This is an area of tremendous clinical relevance given the morbidity, mortality and increasing incidence of diabetic nephropathy.

 Dr. Kelly’s expertise extends to acute kidney injury, tubulogenesis and distant organ effects of renal injury. Clinical studies focus on biomarkers to determine the nature of inflammation in human kidney disease and to diagnose kidney injury at early stages.

Research Interests:

Acute kidney injury is a frequent clinical entity with an unacceptably high mortality, an increasing incidence and an unacceptably high mortality.  The laboratory studies the pathophysiology of acute injury to the kidney, particularly inflammation and apoptotic cell death.  Since the cause of death in patients with acute renal failure is usually related to dysfunction of other organ systems, we investigate the mechanisms of distant organ inflammation and dysfunction after renal injury.

Clinical Interests:

• Acute kidney injury/acute renal failure
• Biomarkers of renal injury
• Hypertension