Phone:
(859)323-5479
  Fax:
(859) 323-6475

Research Programs

Faculty in the Division of Nephrology, Bone and Mineral Metabolism have various research interests.  The following are the principal areas of ongoing research:

Clinical Research

Dialysis:

• Natural history of adynamic bone disease
• Soft tissue calcification in dialysis patients
• Chronic inflammation in ESRD patients
• Long-term results of parathyroidectomy in ESRD patients
• Newer phosphate binders
• Newer erythropoiesis agents
• Secondary hyperparathyroidism: diagnosis and management

Transplantation:

• Prograf in chronic rejection
• Metabolic bone disease in renal transplant patients
• Cytogam and plasmapheresis in highly sensitized patients

Chronic Renal Failure:

• Gene polymorphism and the progression of renal failure

Glomerular Diseases:

• North American IgA Nephropathy Study
• Soy protein in diabetic nephropathy
• Prevention of diabetic nephropathy

Mineral Metabolism:

• Effect of various novel vitamin D metabolites on renal, bone, and other organ functions

Basic Research

Studies in kidney and bone cell culture model:

• =Glucose metabolism in bone cell culture
• Osteoblast-derived chemokines regulation of osteoblast differentiation
• PTH effects on bone cells

Studies in molecular biology:

• Role of vitamin D receptor in modulation gene transcription
• Genomic effects of PTH and PTH fragments
• Factors affecting PTH gene transcription

Studies in bone histology, bone histomorphometry, and metabolic bone disease, including renal osteodystrophy and osteoporosis:

• Cytokines and steroid receptors in bone cells
• Serum factors affecting bone turnover
• Effects of calcimimetic agents on bone histology
• Transgenic mice model of osteoporosis
• Experimental model of secondary hyperparathyroidism
• Experimental model of bone regeneration

Active Grants

General Clinical Research Center
Sponsor: NIH
PI: Emery Wilson, MD
Program Director: HH Malluche, MD

Renal Bone Disease:
Sponsor: NIH
PI: HH Malluche, MD
Co-Investigators: MC Faugere, MD and MC Langub, PhD

Biology of IGF-1 in Bone
Sponsor: Veterans Administration
PI: Thomas L. Clemens, PhD (Univ. of Cincinnati)
Co-Investigators: HH Malluche, MD & MC Faugere, MD

Effects of Lanthanum Carbonate Compound with Calcium Carbonate on Renal Bone Disease in Chronic Renal Failure Patients Receiving Dialysis
Sponsor: Shire Pharmaceuticals
PI: HH Malluche, MD

Effects of an Oral Calcimimetic Agent on Renal Bone Disease in Hemodialysis Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Sponsor: Amgen Inc.
PI: HH Malluche, MD

Effects of Sevelamer Hydrochloride and Calcium Carbonate on Bone Turnover and Mineralization in Hemodialysis Patients
Sponsor: Genzyme Pharmaceuticals
PI: HH Malluche, MD

Negative Regulation of Gene Expression by Vit D
Sponsor: NIH
PI: NJ Koszewski, PhD

Prograf (Tacrolimus) as Secondary Intervention vs Continuation of Cyclosporine in Patients at Risk for Chronic Renal Allograft Failure
Sponsor: Fujisawa Pharmaceuticals
PI: TH Waid, MD
Sub-Investigator: JW McKeown, MD