Clinical Research Opportunities

The Division of Nephrology conducts a wide variety of basic science and clinical research relating to the normal physiology and biology of kidney function, the pathophysiology of kidney injury, epidemiological and therapeutic issues relating to treatment of end stage kidney disease and hypertension. The division is equipped with state-of-the-art research tools in the areas of cellular and molecular biology, biological chemistry, and electrophysiology. The research activities within the Division of Nephrology are highly integrated with other basic and clinical science researchers at the

VanderbiltUniversityMedicalCenter, an environment with a high level of collegiality and cooperation between departments.

The Division of Nephrology is one of a select few centers in the United States that has been awarded a George O'Brien Kidney and Urological Disease Center grant from the National Institutes of Health. The O’Brien center works in collaboration with Vanderbilt Center for Kidney Disease. The combined vision for these centers is to be a nationally and internationally recognized leader in pioneering patient-oriented research.

Patient-oriented research activities in the Division of Nephrology are operated through the Clinical Research Group (CRG) under the direction of Dr. Edward Siew.  The broad goal of the CRG is to increase the clinical research portfolio within the Division through improved communication and organization and to provide a platform for the development of physician-scientists dedicated to a career in patient-oriented research. Clinical research activities within the Division of nephrology cover all aspects of patients-oriented research: epidemiology, health care services and translation clinical research. The availability of the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation and Master in Public Health programs within VUMC has also enabled us to launch the Program for Mentored Clinical Research in Nephrology. The Nephrology Division also operates a Clinical Trials Center which offers unique opportunities for training in and executing clinical research trials. The center's full time staff is dedicated to the support of both long term and short term clinical trial relevant to clinical nephrology. These programs along with the Clinical Research Group help facilitate the development of academically oriented clinical researchers from the excellent group of fellows that are enrolled in the Division’s post-graduate programs and uniquely positions Vanderbilt University Medical Center to be one of the leading centers in patient-oriented Nephrology research.