STUDY OF RENAL DISEASE IN DIABETES MELLITUS AND POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Chronic renal failure and end stage renal disease are enormous medical problems that require the expenditure of huge resources. Prevention of chronic renal disease, and hence the need for dialysis and renal transplantation, is a major national health care goal. Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. Polycystic kidney disease is responsible for 7-10% of all end-stage renal disease. Our laboratory, together with renal clinicians, is seeking to understand how to prevent the progression of renal disease in these patients. Clinical and basic studies in both these areas are of interest to the laboratory.