Nephrology
Leader: Dr Vincent Pichette, M.D., Ph.D.
Research studies conducted in the Nephrology Research Axis focus on the physiological and drug consequences of kidney failure and of hereditary kidney diseases.
Research Areas
Partnerships
Accomplishments and Recent Achievements
Prospects
University Affiliations
Research Areas
- Pharmacology and kidney failure: repercussions of chronic kidney failure on drug transport and metabolism.
- Genetics of kidney diseases: prevention and early treatment of hereditary kidney diseases;
- Signaling and physiology: protein sorting and targeting.
- Clinical research: a number of research projects are under way on predialysis, hemodialysis and kidney transplant.
Use the search tool to discover our nephrology research investigators.
Partnerships
NEPHROLOGY CONSORTIUM
Investigators of the Nephrology Research Axis are members of the University of Montreal’s Nephrology Consortium. The MUHC and the Sacré-Cœur Hospital are equally members. The objective of the Consortium is to optimize the nephrology field of research in order to enable partners to collectively and individually improve their national and international competitiveness. The Consortium facilitates partnerships and exchanges between its members, including educational programs, recruitment and retention of nephrology research investigators.
Accomplishments and Recent Achievements
- Recruitment of Dr Stéphane Lefrançois;
- A research fund of $1 million was obtained from industry, and was dedicated to supporting the axis development (recruitment, purchase of equipment, etc.);
- The development of a clinical database for kidney transplant and dialysis (in progress with the Consortium);
- A major benefit event was organized with the HMR Foundation, benefiting nephrology research conducted at the HMR.
Prospects
In order to strengthen its role and advancement within the Nephrology Consortium, the Nephrology Research Axis plans to recruit at least two investigators by 2010. One of these two investigators is Dr Jean-Philippe Lafrance, who will be setting up the clinical pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacology research program, the axis fourth research area scheduled to begin in early 2009. It will focus on use of drugs and their undesirable effects (drugs with consequences on kidneys with respect to the general population, and drugs used by people living with kidney diseases).
University Affiliations
The research investigators of the Nephrology Research Axis are affiliated and carry out one or more course loads in the following departments and faculties of the University of Montreal:
- Medicine,
- Graduate and Postgraduate Studies,
- Pharmacy,
- Pharmacology,
- Biomedical Sciences,
- Biochemistry,
- Physiology.