Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

Renal tubular epithelium has a large capacity for regeneration after injury. During the repair process, surviving tubular cells actively proliferate and differentiate into mature tubular cells to ensure a proper repair of kidney structures and function. Injury-repair mechanisms are also part of PKD progression. The two events are so intertwined that it is difficult to dissect them. Injury can cause or accelerate cyst formation, but at the same time, cyst enlargement is a source of local injury, establishing an injury-like cyst milieu. This aberrant activation of repair/remodelling mechanisms will result in exacerbation of the disease and renal function decline. Consequently, cyst formation and disease progression involve complex interactions of different molecular pathways.

Our research is aimed at fully understanding the pathogenesis of Polycystic Kidney Disease, which must lead to the design of new therapeutic approaches. We utilize tools in genetics, molecular cell biology and pathology to  study three interrelated research topics:

1) Genetic studies and biomarkers

2) Clarifying disease mechanisms using state-of-the art technologies

3) Identifying new drug targets and test new treatment strategies for PKD

Prof.dr. Dorien J.M. Peters
Principal investigator / Professor Human Genetics, specifically the molecular and functional genetics of cystic kidneys

Laura Louzao Martinez  
Researcher 

David Figueiredo Vidal  
PhD student

Nicolas Olalde Hightower           
PhD student

Anish A. Kanhai
PhD student

Cesare A. Marino            
PhD student