Aerial view of University of Michigan Health hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Nephrology Clinical Research

The U-M Medical School Department of Internal Medicine Division of Nephrology has a broad range of clinical research interests and has seen exciting growth in several areas of research.

Faculty in the division are lead investigators and collaborators on NIH-sponsored multi-center clinical trials like the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. Many faculty conduct patient-oriented research at the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), which was founded in 2006 to enable and enhance clinical and translational research at the University of Michigan.

Clinician scientists in the division have spear-headed collaborations with investigators regionally at the Detroit Medical Center and St. John Hospital, as well as across the United States and internationally.
Key Areas of Research

Cardiovascular Disease

  • Clinical trials in mechanisms of hypertension and accelerated cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and renal transplantation
  • Clinical trials exploring effects of vitamin supplementation on vascular disease among patients with kidney disease
  • Kidney disease and hypertension in the Black population

Acute Renal Failure

  • Studies in survival of hospital patients with acute renal failure and examination of delivery of renal replacement therapies
  • Development of a bioartificial kidney now in a multi-center clinical trial

End-Stage Renal Disease, Dialysis & Kidney Transplantation

  • Examination of various dialysis access techniques for hemodialysis therapy
  • Bioengineering and investigation of dialysis access with an emphasis on surveillance techniques
  • Access to kidney transplantation and renal transplant survival in minority populations
  • Clinical pharmacology of immunosuppressive medications
Clinical Research Faculty
Michael Heung Michael Heung
Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
Program Director, Internal Medicine
Associate Division Chief for Nephrology
Alan B. Leichtman Alan B Leichtman
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine
labcoat Joseph M Messana
Professor of Internal Medicine
labcoat Abhijit S Naik, MBBS
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
user Rajiv saran Rajiv Saran, MBBS, DTCD, MD, MRCP (UK), MS
Florence E Bingham Research Professor of Nephrology
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Epidemiology
Jonathan Herman Segal MD Jonathan H Segal
Professor of Internal Medicine
Vahakn Bedig Shahinian MD Vahakn B Shahinian
Dr Robert H and Eva M Moyad Research Professor of Urology
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Urology
labcoat Balazs Szamosfalvi, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Director
MDS
Internal Medicine
labcoat William F Weitzel III
Professor of Internal Medicine
julie Julie Anne Wright Nunes
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Assistant Chair, Department of Internal Medicine
Medical Director, MDS and Inpatient Services - Nephrology
Medical Director of Taubman Medical Specialties
labcoat Lenar T Yessayan
Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical Director, MPLAN - Inpatient Hemodialysis
Medical Director, MDS Dialysis Unit
labcoat Eric W Young
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine