Robert L. Bacallao, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
|
Affiliations: |
|
Medical School: |
University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois |
Research Interests:
My research interests are centered on the disease process known as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. When employed a variety of molecular biology and cell biology-based approaches to identify cellular phenotypes associated with mutations in the PKD1 gene. Specifically the roles that polycystin-1 plays in lateral membrane assembly are studied and the concomitant changes in wnt/wgless signaling. Developmental processes that are altered during nephrogenesis are also a subject of study in our laboratory.
A separate line of investigation, recently started in collaboration with Bonnie Blazer-Yost, investigates epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) biogenesis in polarized epithelial cells. We have recently described a membrane delimited signaling pathway that mediates rapid signal transduction of insulin signaling from the basal plasma membrane of the cell to the apical plasma membrane. Investigations into ENaC biogenesis employs live cell imaging and FRET coupled with biochemical and proteomic approaches.
Clinical Interests:
My clinical interests are in chronic renal failure and polycystic kidney disease. A polycystic kidney disease clinic has been started at Methodist hospital which will serve as a site for investigative therapies for polycystic kidney disease.
