Meet Our Team

Dr. Semenikhina earned a Ph.D. in 2020 from the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology in Ukraine, focusing on GPCR signaling in disease development. Joining Dr. Palygin's lab at MUSC in 2021, Rita has since led research on redox signaling in podocyte pathophysiology and its role in glomerular diseases, particularly in diabetes. Dr. Semenikhina has published 17 peer-reviewed papers and received multiple awards, including recognition for work on nitric oxide signaling in podocytes from the American Physiological Society, American Heart Association, and Women in Nephrology. She is focused on molecular mechanisms of renal filtration barrier dysfunction and aims to translate her findings into innovative therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases in the US.

Awards:

Poster Award from American Heart Association (2024 Hypertension Scientific Sessions)

Excellence in Research Award from AJP Renal (2023 International Podocyte Meeting)

Woman in Nephrology (WIN) Presentation Award (2022 WIN Leadership Conference)

Renal Section Research Recognition Award (2022 American Physiological Society)

Woman in Nephrology Leadership Conference Travel Award (2022)

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)

Mariia Stefanenko is a visiting graduate student and a Ph.D. candidate at the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology in Ukraine. She has expertise in electrophysiology, imaging, and renal pathophysiology. Her research focuses on GPCR and ion channel interactions, as well as redox mechanisms in kidney diseases such as diabetic kidney disease and lupus nephritis. Mariia possesses exceptional skills in cultivating primary human cell cultures, performing functional confocal imaging, and studying the molecular mechanisms linking ceramides to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Mariia’s work has been recognized with awards from the American Society of Nephrology and the American Physiological Society. Mariia aims to pursue a career in academia, advancing therapies for renal diseases through innovative molecular research.

Awards:

ASN Kidney STARS (2024 American Society of Nephrology)

ASN Kidney TREKS (2024 American Society of Nephrology)

Renal Section Research Recognition Award (2024 American Physiological Society)

Finalist of the Renal Section Predoctoral Excellence in Renal Research Award (2023 American Physiological Society)

Graduate Student Research Symposium Travel Award (2022, University of Mississippi Medical Center Cardio-Renal Research Center (CRRC)

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 Carolina2026

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

Brooke Chapple holds a B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Liberty University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Medical University of South Carolina. Her research in the Palygin Lab focuses on the role of circulating factors in recurrent Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, with an emphasis on understanding how these factors dysregulate calcium signaling in mesangial cells. Driven by a passion for translational research, Brooke aims to bridge mechanistic discoveries with meaningful clinical outcomes for patients experiencing post-transplant FSGS recurrence.