Overview of Projects

The group has a variety of projects, both ongoing and complete in data collection. Below you will find information regarding each of them. If you are interested in learning more or would like to work with these studies, you can explore their individual pages using the navigation bar on the left side of this page, or you can contact us.

Translational Research in Biomarker Endpoints Consortium (TRIBE-AKI)
This consortium aims to investigate novel biomarkers in the detection of early AKI after major cardiac surgery.

Deceased-Donor Biomarker Study
The shortage of kidneys for transplantation is a major dilemma. Efforts have been taken to expand the organ supply by using kidneys from deceased donors. However, deceased donor kidneys often come with risk factors for allograft dysfunction, such as older age and acute kidney injury. This project has identified novel biomarkers in kidney transplantation associated with allograft outcomes. This study will assess real-time point-of-care biomarker measurements via rapid-testing lateral-flow devices to validate associations with graft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

Kidney Precision Medicine Center of Excellence (KPMCOE)
The KPMCOE repository of EPIC data consists of all patients with serum creatinine values ever checked at Johns Hopkins Hospital (1.7 million patients, 16 million serum creatinine values, 54 million outpatient contacts) from 2003 onwards. In processing and curating repository data, this study aims to modernize kidney disease research, improve shared decision making, and facilitate the execution of future kidney research studies.

Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP)
In the hopes of discovering therapeutic targets for acute kidney injury, which currently has no specific therapy, the NIH/NIDDK has created the Kidney Precision Medicine Project consortium.

Caring for OUTPatiEnts after Acute Kidney Injury (COPE-AKI)
This trial aims to develop the best practices in caring for patients after hospitalization with moderate to severe acute kidney injury (AKI) by comparing the standard of care against a study team intervention. Individuals assigned to the study intervention will receive multidisciplinary care recommendations from a team of providers, including a study nephrologist, nurse navigator, and pharmacist.

Novel Approaches in the Investigation of Kidney Disease (NAIKiD)
This study aims to establish a biorepository of clinical data, kidney biopsy tissue, blood samples, and urine samples from adult patients scheduled for clinically indicated biopsies. Through this project, novel blood and urine biomarkers will be identified to develop better diagnostic tools that recognize the determinants of kidney disease.

The ASsessment, Serial Evaluation, and Subsequent Sequelae in Acute Kidney Injury (ASSESS-AKI) Network
The ASsessment, Serial Evaluation, and Subsequent Sequelae in Acute Kidney Injury (ASSESS-AKI) Network is an epidemiological study of long term outcomes following episodes of AKI.

Personalized Recommendations for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Care Using a Kidney Action Team (KAT): A Randomized Trial
Hospitalized patients who develop acute kidney injury (AKI) are at greater risk for clinical decline and death. This clinical trial investigates the impact of individualized AKI-specific recommendations by trained nephrologists and pharmacists delivered immediately upon the detection of AKI in hospitalized patients.

Novel Serum and Urinary Biomarkers of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Type 2 diabetes is a major public health problem worldwide. Progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) in type 2 diabetes is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The primary goal of this project is to develop novel urine biomarkers to better predict progressive CKD in diabetics.

Chronic Kidney Disease in Children
Progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children leads to end stage renal disease (ESRD), which is associated with mortality rates 30-150 times higher than in the general pediatric population. In this project, novel biomarkers of kidney injury, inflammation, repair, and fibrosis will be combined with traditional measures to facilitate risk prediction of CKD progression.

Kidney Biomarkers and the Differential Diagnosis and Prognosis of AKI in Patients with Cirrhosis
Renal dysfunction is a common complication in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. The diagnosis of Type 1 Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is one of exclusion and cannot be made until other causes of renal failure, particularly acute tubular necrosis (ATN), are ruled out. In this prospective multicenter cohort study, we are determining the efficacy of biomarkers in correctly identifying ATN in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and renal dysfunction, thereby facilitation the diagnosis of Type 1 HRS.


PRESERVE Trial (Sub-Study 578) Biomarker Collection and Analysis Among Participants
The PRESERVE trial (Prevention of Serious Adverse Events Following Angiography) is a multicenter VA Healthcare System study that is led by Steven Weisbord, MD, MSc and Paul Palevsky, MD, of the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System. This study seeks to collect and analyze serum and urine biomarkers in high-risk patients undergoing coronary and non-coronary angiography to enhance our understanding of their role in the setting of CIAKI.