The Kidney Translational Research Center (KTRC) is dedicated to advancing our understanding of vascular and renal physiology, focusing on the molecular and cellular mechanisms within human kidney epithelial and endothelial cells. Historically, functional research has relied heavily on rodent models and heterologous expression systems due to limited access to human tissues leaving several essential questions, like the properties of ion transport, sex difference, or mechanisms of aging and metabolism in native human kidney largely unexplored.
Our mission is to bridge this gap by enhancing translational cardiorenal research at MUSC, serving investigators from a broad range of specialties, including Nephrology, Cardiology, Microbiology, Rheumatology, Immunology, and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. By employing cutting-edge methodologies, KTRC laboratories perform isolation of defined nephron segments, renal microvessels, immune cells, etc., for advanced studies using electrophysiology and confocal or two-photon microscopy. We also produce primary human kidney cell cultures and perform multi-omics approaches using renal tissue, cystic fluid, adrenal gland, visceral fat, etc.
The MUSC Transplant Center is among the largest kidney transplant programs in the nation, with 5,618 kidney transplants performed in 2021 alone. Organs prepared for transplantation are typically preserved in a University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, allowing for long-distance organ procurement. However, kidneys preserved in UW solution for over 16–24 hours face a higher risk of transplant rejection and, if not matched to a recipient, are often discarded. KTRC utilizes these organs for groundbreaking research. Our innovative methods preserve the viability of these kidneys for research, enabling detailed investigations of kidney structure and function, even after extended preservation periods.
