Research Opportunities for Nephrology Fellows

As a fellow in the Division of Nephrology & Hypertension at the University of Utah, you will have the opportunity to engage in transformative research that spans the full translational spectrum, from molecular mechanisms to clinical outcomes. Our fellowship is designed to foster the development of the next generation of physician-scientists through robust mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and access to world-class resources.

Flexible Research Pathways

Fellows pursuing a research track fellowship may structure their training to best align with their career goals, completing the one-year clinical fellowship either at the start or end of their program. Fellows identify a faculty mentor early in their training and conduct research at either University Hospital or the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, depending on their mentor’s location. Trainees maintain a ½-day general nephrology continuity clinic throughout fellowship.

Cutting-Edge Research Opportunities

Our Division’s research portfolio is exceptionally broad and includes:

• Molecular physiology of electrolyte, water, and blood pressure regulation
• Pathophysiologic mechanisms and therapeutic targets in kidney disease, including acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease (CKD), Alport syndrome, and membranous nephropathy
• Bench-to-bedside studies examining arteriovenous hemodialysis access and vascular function in patients with chronic and end-stage kidney disease
• Studies of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, including interventional clinical trials and epidemiologic, genetic, and disparities research
• Clinical studies of acid-base physiology, kidney stones, and transplant medicine
• Investigation of cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease

A partial list of Nephrology Research Laboratories is available here.

Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Environment with Advanced Research Cores

Nephrology fellows benefit from a vibrant, collaborative research community that extends well beyond the Division. Division investigators collaborate widely with faculty from other Divisions in the Department of Internal Medicine, as well as Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Population Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Informatics, Biochemistry, Pathology, Human Genetics, and Pharmacology & Toxicology. In addition, trainees can engage with investigators studying:

• Ceramides in acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
• Immune dysregulation in lupus nephritis
• Metabolic determinants of CKD
• Structural biology of kidney ion transporters
• Advanced epidemiologic approaches, including active comparator emulated trials i

Thus, fellows will have the opportunity to work with, and learn from, investigators with diverse expertise across campus.

• The Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism Center (CRMC) is co-directed by Dr. Srini Beddhu in the Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, and Dr. Stavros Drakos in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
• The CRMC sponsors a monthly seminar series with investigators across campus and an annual symposium, and provides multiple opportunities for trainees
• The Utah Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center/Center for Metabolic Health (DMRC/CMH) brings together researchers, clinicians and trainees to catalyze innovative research on diabetes and metabolic health throughout Utah and the Intermountain West.
• Activities include weekly seminars, research-in-progress, interest groups, and an annual symposium

Core facilities provide access to high-end instrumentation and advanced expertise, including:

• Cell imaging
• DNA/Peptide synthesis
• DNA sequencing
• Drug discovery
• Electron microscopy
• Flow cytometry
• Genomics
• Mass spectrometry and proteomics
• Metabolic phenotyping
• Metabolomics
• Mutation generation and detection
• Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
• Pre-clinical imaging
• Small animal ultrasound
• Transgenic mouse generation
• Bioinformatic analysis
• Biorepository and Molecular Pathology
• High throughput genomics

Institutional Support for Trainees

The Biomedical Research Education Office (BREO) provides centralized support for research training across the institution, and manages multiple active NIH training grants, many of which have supported Nephrology trainees.

The University of Utah and the University of Colorado have an active U2C/TL1 training grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, ASCEND: Mountain States Advancement in Research, Supportive Networking, and Career Development. ASCEND provides funding for research fellows, and networking and career development opportunities for all trainees pursuing kidney, urology, and benign hematology research at the University of Utah and the University of Colorado.

For fellows who join faculty at the University of Utah following their training, multiple resources are available to support aspiring clinician-investigators, such as the K12 Institutional Career Development Program and the Vice President’s Clinical and Translationa (VPCAT) Research Scholars Program.

Formal Training in Clinical and Translational Research

Fellows engaged in clinical investigation have the opportunity to enroll in the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI), a two-year program emphasizing epidemiology, clinical outcomes, clinical trials, and health services research. Supported by the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award and the Office of the Vice President for Health Sciences, the MSCI provides structured didactic coursework, longitudinal seminars, and mentored research leading to a master’s degree.

Additional courses available to all fellows include:

• Research rigor and reproducibility
• Data interpretation and statistical analysis
• Grant writing
• Advanced methods in genetic engineering, gene expression, microscopy, and digital imaging

Scholarship and Professional Development

All clinical fellows complete a quality improvement project during outpatient rotations and are encouraged to tailor additional scholarly projects to their interests. Fellows present at national meetings, including ASN Kidney Week and the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting, and are supported in developing abstracts and manuscripts that advance their academic careers.

A Fellowship Designed for Future Leaders

Through flexible research pathways, rigorous training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and access to nationally recognized mentors and resources, the University of Utah’s nephrology fellowship prepares trainees for impactful careers as clinician-scientists and leaders in kidney research.