Palygin Research Lab

Dr. Oleg Palygin is a Professor in the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He earned his Ph.D. in Biophysics from the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2004. Dr. Palygin completed postdoctoral training in renal physiology and neuroscience at the University of Iowa, University of Warwick (UK), and the Medical College of Wisconsin. He joined MUSC in 2021, continuing his innovative research on renal physiology and pathophysiology.

Dr. Palygin’s research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of kidney function, particularly the role of ion channels, transporters, and redox signaling in renal and cardiovascular health and disease. The Palygin lab investigates the intricate processes of electrolyte balance, albumin handling, and calcium signaling, exploring their implications in conditions such as diabetic kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease, lupus nephritis and salt-sensitive hypertension. A key area of interest in the Palygin lab is the investigation of oxidative and nitrosative stress in kidney damage.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the glomerulus, the key structure in the kidney’s filtration system (PMID: 39534957). 

The complex architecture of the rat glomerulus in the kidney as revealed by SEM highlights the intricate network of podocytes covering the glomerular capillaries. Podocyte interdigitated foot processes that are intertwined with each other, creating filtration slits. This structure is crucial for maintaining the selectivity of the glomerular filter, permitting water and small molecules to pass into the urine while preventing larger molecules such as proteins from leaving the bloodstream.

Dr. Mykhailo Fedoriuk earned his Ph.D. in 2021 from the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology in Ukraine, where his research focused on proton-gated ASIC channels. During his undergraduate training, Dr. Fedoriuk contributed to the development of novel techniques, including vibrodissociation for isolating nephron segments and high-resolution scanning ion conductance microscopy for renal imaging, in the laboratories of Drs. Palygin and Staruschenko. In 2022, Dr. Fedoriuk joined Dr. Palygin's lab at MUSC, where he mastered his expertise in single-channel recordings of TRPC, KIR, and EnaC channels in kidney cells. His current research focuses on unraveling the mechanisms underlying tubular and glomerular pathology in hypertension and exploring the role of redox signaling in PKD pathology. To date, Dr. Fedoriuk has authored 18 publications in high-impact journals. His research aims to elucidate the mechanisms of salt-sensitive hypertension and develop strategies to protect kidneys from damage.

Awards:

• Renal Section Research Recognition Award (2023 American Physiological Society)
  Hollings Cancer Center Scholarship (2023, MUSC)

Kathryn Glorioso is a Ph.D. candidate in the Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pathology Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), co-mentored by Drs. Joshua H. Lipschutz and Oleg Palygin. Her research focuses on renal physiology, with particular emphasis on renin-angiotensin system-mediated calcium and nitric oxide signaling in glomerular cells, pharmacological modulation of angiotensin receptors, and redox regulation in kidney disease. Kathryn has developed expertise in isolating human and rodent glomeruli, primary cell culture, confocal calcium imaging, and functional ex vivo assessment of intracellular signaling in renal tissues. Kathryn has received numerous national and international awards, including the North American Three Minute Thesis (3MT) People's Choice Champion, the ASN Kidney STARS and TREKS Travel Awards, and the O'Brien Kidney Resource Alliance Travel Award. She is committed to pursuing an academic career focused on translational nephrology, integrating mechanistic studies with human kidney research to develop innovative therapies for glomerular diseases.

Awards:

• 2026 George M. O’Brien Kidney Resource Alliance (OKRA) travel award
• 2026 Participation in Kidney TREKS (Tutored Research and Education for Kidney Scholars) Program, American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
• 2026 Outstanding Poster Presentation Award, Graduate Student Section, Department of Medicine Research Day, Medical University of South Carolina
• 2026 3rd Place, Lowcountry Speaking Invitational, The Citadel, Charleston, SC
• 2025 People’s Choice Winner of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Showcase and Roundtable at the annual meeting of Council of Graduate Schools' (CGS) 65th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC