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

The U-M Medical School Department of Internal Medicine Division of Nephrology and its collaborators have made significant strides in multiple basic science areas. Our strengths in these evolving areas have advanced the field of kidney disease research, leading to improvements in treatment and management options.

Areas of Interest
  • Podocyte biology
  • Molecular genetics of cystic disease and glomerulopathies
  • Acute tubular epithelial cell injury
  • Epithelial cell biology
  • Signal transduction
  • Lipid/phospholipase biochemistry and function
  • Kidney development
  • Smooth muscle biology and glucose transporters
  • Biomedical engineering
Faculty Affiliations & Research Collaborations

Several of our faculty members have joint appointments in or close research relationships with the below divisions, departments, and centers:

Excellence in Basic Science Research

Our division proudly holds four consecutive five-year grants for the George M. O'Brien Michigan Kidney Translational Core Center, one of only eight such centers in the entire United States.

Explore George M. O'Brien Michigan Kidney Translational Core Center
Basic Science Research Faculty
portrait of Farsad Afshinnia Farsad Afshinnia, MD MS
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
frank brosius Frank C Brosius III
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine
Garg-Puneet-2020 Puneet Garg, MD, FASN
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
labcoat Jennifer Harder, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
David Humes H D Humes
Professor of Internal Medicine
Kretzler Matthias Kretzler, MD
Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine and Research Professor
Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
profile-benjamin-lewis-margolis-2016 Benjamin L Margolis
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine
labcoat Laura Heyns Mariani, MD, MSCE
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Assistant Clerkship Director and Associate Fellowship Director - Nephrology
MATHEW_Anna.jpg ANNA VACHAPARAMPIL MATHEW, MBBS
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
labcoat Sanjeevkumar Patel, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology and Medical Director
MDS - Canton
Subramaniam Pennathur photo Subramaniam Pennathur
Norman Radin Professor of Nephrology
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Section Head, Division of Nephrology
James shayman James A Shayman
Agnes C and Frank D McKay Professor
Professor of Pharmacology
Professor of Internal Medicine
labcoat Joel M Weinberg
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine
labcoat William F Weitzel III
Professor of Internal Medicine
labcoat Roger C Wiggins
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine