Nephrology
The Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has a long and notable history of studying the pathophysiology of and developing potential therapies for the prevention and treatment of kidney disease. With over 70 active faculty comprised of innovative, internationally recognized basic and clinical researchers and active clinicians working in state-of-the-art facilities, our contributions are validated through high-impact publications, strong federal and non-federal grant funding and a robust clinical program that provides cutting-edge comprehensive care across the spectrum of kidney disease.
Our training program aims to and has historically provided excellent training that is tailored to the path the fellow chooses including private practice nephrologist, basic science researcher, clinical science researcher, clinician educator, health care executive or a career in nephrology government service. Our basic and clinical research programs are enriched by the Vanderbilt O’Brien Center for Kidney Disease, Vanderbilt Center for Matrix Biology, Vanderbilt Integrated Program for Acute Kidney Injury, Vanderbilt Transplant Center and Vanderbilt Nephrology Clinical Trials Center.
The Vanderbilt Nephrology and Hypertension Fellowship Program recruits seven general nephrology fellows and two advanced transplant fellows per year and provides extended educational opportunities offering enrollment in the Vanderbilt Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Clinical Investigation and the Master of Education in the Health Professions programs.
Our Clinical Specialties Include:
● Dialysis for Kidney Failure
(Vanderbilt Dialysis Clinic, East Dialysis Clinic)
● Pathophysiology of Renal Injury
● End-Stage Renal Disease
● Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)|
● Hypertension
Our Education Opportunities Include:
● Clinical Fellowship
● Research Fellowship
● Advanced Fellowship in Renal Transplantation
● Over 340 educational conferences offered yearly
Our Research Facilities Include:
● 14 NIH-Funded Laboratories
● Matrix Biology Center
● Clinical Trials Center
Vanderbilt O'Brien Kidney Center:
● About VOKC
● Core Services
● Education
● Mouse Kidney Injury Workshop
● NOCKS
● Pilot and Feasibility Program
● Renal Pathology Workshop
● Student Research Training Program
Our Mission:
Inspire interest in the prevention of disease, promote human health, cultivate biomedical discovery, provide compassionate care, and educate tomorrow's leaders.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:
Our Goal:
Provide excellence in patient care, train physicians and researchers, lead in scientific research and discoveries in understanding and treating acute and chronic renal disease, and promote collaborations within the scientific domain.
Our Division Leadership:
T. Alp Ikizler, MD is the Chief of the Division of Nephrology, the Catherine Mclaughlin Hakim Chair in Vascular Biology, Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Ikizler’s main research interest is focused on the metabolic and nutritional aspects of patients with kidney disease, especially ones with acute kidney injury and advanced kidney disease.
Raymond Harris, MD is the Associate Director of the Division of Nephrology, having served as the Chief of the Division of Nephrology for 17 years., Dr. Harris is the Ann and Roscoe Robinson Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and the Director of the Vanderbilt Center of Kidney Disease. Dr. Harris’ lab focuses on the understanding of mechanisms and developing potential therapeutic interventions for acute and chronic renal injury and also the role of growth factors, especially the EGF family of growth factors in mediating the recovery from acute kidney injury and potential mediators of progressive fibrosis in chronic kidney disease. His research interests also focus on progressive kidney injury, especially in diabetic nephropathy.
Give to the Vanderbilt Center for Kidney Disease
Over 20 million Americans have kidney disease, and the vast majority is not aware of their condition. This fund supports world-renown physician investigators in the VCKD who are undertaking cutting edge basic and clinical and translational research aimed at treating and curing kidney disease.