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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, MD, MS
Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
Program Director, Internal Medicine
Associate Division Chief for Nephrology, Medical School
Alan B. Leichtman

Alan B Leichtman
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine, Medical School
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Joseph M Messana
Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical School
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Abhijit S Naik, MBBS, MPH
Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical School
Rajiv saran

Rajiv Saran, MBBS, DTCD, MD, MRCP (UK), MS
Florence E Bingham Research Professor of Nephrology
Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical School
Professor of Epidemiology
School of Public Health
Jonathan Herman Segal MD

Jonathan H Segal
Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical School
Vahakn Bedig Shahinian MD

Vahakn B Shahinian, MD
Dr Robert H and Eva M Moyad Research Professor of Urology
Co-Chief of Dow Division of Health Services Research
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Urology
Medical School
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Balazs Szamosfalvi, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Director
MDS
Internal Medicine
Medical School
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William F Weitzel III
Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical School
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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
Medical School
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Lenar Yessayan, MD
Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical Director, MPLAN - Inpatient Hemodialysis
Medical Director, MDS Dialysis Unit
Medical School
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Eric W Young
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine
Medical School