kidney disease

February 27, 2026

‘Kindlins’ are a key to kidney formation

Kindlins regulate cell signaling during the formation of ureteric buds, a key step in the development of the kidneys’ urine collection system.

By Bill Snyder
February 5, 2026

‘Liberation’ from acute dialysis may enhance recovery of kidney function

Researchers at Vanderbilt Health and three other centers compared conventional dialysis to a conservative dialysis strategy.

By Guillermo Sanchez, PhD
January 20, 2026

Bayer and Vanderbilt University Medical Center to advance treatments for cardiovascular and kidney diseases 

The collaboration will leverage VUMC’s resource platform, including its comprehensive datasets hosted in Vanderbilt’s BioVU collection of DNA and plasma to enable data-driven insights and to accelerate discovery and development.

Joshua Carty, MD
July 23, 2025

VUMC nephrology fellow Joshua Carty wins grant to study rare kidney disorder

Carty’s research focuses on nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, a rare kidney condition in which the body produces too much urine, leading to potentially dangerous dehydration.

By Bill Snyder
December 16, 2024

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘Eric soared above what we expected and delivered holistic care (mind, body and soul)’

Eric Kapitbahay, BSN, RN, works on the 7 South Dialysis unit of Vanderbilt University Hospital. He is one of the latest DAISY Award winners at VUMC.

By Kylie Avery
October 25, 2024

Blockbuster obesity drugs also may slow kidney disease

The report supports previous clinical trials that found the GLP-1 receptor agonist drug semaglutide reduced kidney disease progression in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

By Bill Snyder
September 16, 2024

Kidney stone grant to create research resource for adults and children

The project will create the Urinary Stone Disease Hub, known as USDHub, with de-identified patient data from over 230,000 individuals with kidney stone disease across nine health systems in the U.S.
By Craig Boerner
August 22, 2024

Higher thiazide doses shown to reduce kidney stone events

Thiazide diuretics are commonly prescribed to prevent kidney stone recurrence, treat high blood pressure, and clear fluid from the body in conditions such as heart failure.
By Craig Boerner
August 5, 2024

Low potassium ‘turns on’ kidney proximal tubule: study

A kidney protein that responds to low levels of blood potassium — which can cause high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems — may be a target for new therapeutics.
By Leigh MacMillan
February 7, 2024

VUMC study finds molecular switch key to repair of kidney damage

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have identified Rac1, a molecular switch that regulates the actin cytoskeleton of epithelial cells in the collecting ducts, as a driver of post-obstructive kidney repair.
By Bill Snyder
November 21, 2023

VUMC scientists discover key step to kidney fibrosis

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the first time have shown that activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is essential for the development of kidney fibrosis, tissue scarring following injury that can lead to kidney failure.
By Bill Snyder
October 5, 2023

Kidney disease gene also has a protective mutation

African Americans have long been known to be at increased risk of kidney disease due to a dangerous genetic mutation that creates a hole in the kidney cells, but Vanderbilt researchers have now discovered a protective genetic mutation that covers the hole to eliminate the risk.
By Craig Boerner
May 8, 2023

Improved imaging for kidney disease

Vanderbilt researchers identified optimal MRI parameters for estimating the severity of polycystic kidney disease, a common inherited disorder that can lead to end-stage renal failure.
By Leigh MacMillan