Established in 2020, the Kidney and Urology Translational Research group at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research focuses on using basic and translational science research discoveries and experiments to gain insight into pediatric diseases that involve the kidney and urinary tract. The group has ongoing investigations in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, kidneys stones, pyelonephritis, urinary tract infections, acute kidney injury and renal tubular acidosis.
Active studies investigate the role of renal intercalated cells in innate immune defenses against uropathogens, discovery and characterization of antimicrobial peptides and single cell RNA profiling during UTIs. Further, the group leads precision health initiatives aimed to identify the genes involved with pediatric kidney stones and urinary tract infections.
Collaborative studies from the Kidney and Urology Translational Research group seek to define novel biomarkers for improving point-of-care diagnostics in children and adults with suspected urinary tract infections. To establish resources for future studies, the research group houses a shared biobank of patient DNA, kidney and bladder tissue, and urine.
This group has multiple collaborations across Indiana University School of Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics and Purdue University Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.
