The Division of Pediatric Nephrology is active in patient care, research and teaching. The arrival of several new faculty members has energized and revitalized the Division in all areas of activity.

The laboratory of Dr. Robert Mak is focused on the neuroendocrinology of cachexia and osteodystrophy of chronic kidney diseases, as well as biomarker discovery for non-invasive novel diagnostic tests for vesicoureteral reflux. Dr. Wilson Cheung is a Research Scientist who works in Dr. Mak’s laboratory. The laboratory of Dr. Elizabeth Ingulli studies T cell motility in the context of acute renal transplant rejection. Dr. Kirtida Mistry is developing research in the genomics of chronic kidney disease, in collaboration with Dr. Dan O’Connor. Dr. Vivian Reznik is part of the leadership of the NIH funded Center of Excellence in Research in Health Disparities which is conducting research on genetic, biochemical and environmental aspects of health disparities in hypertension, the metabolic syndrome and HIV. Dr. Sanjay Nigam studies the fetal kidney development, as well as transporters located in the kidney. In addition, the Division is actively involved in clinical research in a variety of diseases and conditions.

Medical students and pediatric residents take electives in pediatric nephrology, spending two to four weeks on both the inpatient and outpatient services with kidney conditions. The Division also has a three-year accredited subspecialty fellowship designed to prepare fellows for a career in academic pediatric nephrology. The fellowship program was reviewed by the ACGME in 2008 and was accredited for an additional five years. Clinically, the Division is the only service in San Diego and Imperial County that provides comprehensive care to children with kidney diseases, including acute and chronic dialysis and renal transplantation.