Kailey Lashbrook
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Jeffrey Beamish
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology Division / Medicine
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Authors: Kailey Lashbrook, Jeffrey Beamish
Abstract
This project seeks to understand how the body recovers, or why it doesn’t recover, from acute kidney injuries (AKIs). Acute kidney injuries describe sudden episodes of kidney failure in which the kidneys are unable to filter waste from the blood. This condition develops rapidly over a couple of days and affects more than 13 million people every year. If an individual is unable to recover from these injuries, there is a high risk of mortality. This research is being performed to improve treatments for individuals suffering from AKIs, specifically those whose kidneys are unable to recover despite undergoing intensive treatment. By better understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in kidney injuries, more effective treatments can be created and administered to patients. Previous literature examining the role of Pax2/Pax 8, which are essential transcription factors needed for kidney development, in the formation of proximal tubule cells guided this project. This literature established the role these transcription factors play in the development and function of proximal tubule cells. The proximal tubules make up a large portion of the kidney and are responsible for various regulatory and endocrine functions. This project seeks to determine the role that Pax2/Pax8 play when it comes to proximal tubule repair after an acute kidney injury has occurred.
