News
Congratulations to our combined Neonatology-Pediatric Nephrology Fellow, Dr. Tara Beck, DO, who was awarded a grant by George M. O’Brien Kidney Resource Alliance (OKRA) to present at the Neonatal AKI-focused conference: Midwest Society of Pediatrics!
Division of Pediatric Nephrology chief Jacqueline Ho, MD, MS, and research director of Pediatric Nephrology, Sunder Sims-Lucas, PhD, were awarded a Snyder Family Foundation FIRST grant through the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation to establish the scientific groundwork and evidence for a future National Institutes of Health (NIH)-designated Pediatric Center of Excellence in Nephrology (PCEN). Check out the article!
Takuto Chiba, PhD, research assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, has received a 2025 Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation Children’s Trust Grantmakers award to advance his research on the mechanisms that drive progression from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in neonates and young children. Check out the article!
Pediatric Nephrology Researcher Takuto Chiba, PhD, Awarded George M. O’Brien Kidney Resource Alliance (OKRA) Pilot Grant for AKI Research. Check out the article!
New research from the laboratories of Sunder Sims-Lucas, PhD and Eric Goetzman, PhD, reveals possible therapeutic implications for mitigating acute kidney injury (AKI). The study, titled "Loss of long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase protects against acute kidney injury," was published in JCI Insight in February 2025. Takuto Chiba, PhD, as first author. Also collaborating on the study were researchers from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.
UPMC Children’s Pediatric Nephrology Division Names Juhi Kumar, MD, MPH, Clinical Director
Dr. Kumar was appointed as division clinical director beginning January 1, 2025.
Sims-Lucas Laboratory Receives NIH R01 to Study New Target for Preventing Acute Kidney Injury
This new R01 study is focused on the potential use of dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) as a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing AKI.
Rethinking Sodium Correction in Severe Hyponatremia: New Study in JAMA Internal Medicine Suggests Faster Correction Times Could Improve Outcomes
Contributing to the study from the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was clinical director, Michael L. Moritz, MD.
Featured Publications
2024
Publication by Michael L. Moritz, MD and Yifeng Zhang reporting the power of philanthropy and how good deeds can have far-reaching ripple effects. Hemodialysis access in Guatemalan children: a story of global health and the power of philanthropy | Pediatric Nephrology
Publication by Juhi Kumar, MD, MPH regarding chronic kidney disease and hypertension. Vitamin D and its associations with blood pressure in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) cohort
Publication by Aidan Wilder Porter, MD: Excess dietary sodium restores electrolyte and water homeostasis caused by loss of the endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone, GRP170, in the mouse nephron.
Porter AW, Vorndran HE, Marciszyn A, Mutchler SM, Subramanya AR, Kleyman TR, Hendershot LM, Brodsky JL, Buck TM.Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2024 Nov 18. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39556479
Publication by Rannar Airik, PhD: Endothelial cells drive organ fibrosis in mice by inducing expression of the transcription factor SOX9.
Trogisch FA, Abouissa A, Keles M, Birke A, Fuhrmann M, Dittrich GM, Weinzierl N, Wink E, Cordero J, Elsherbiny A, Martin-Garrido A, Grein S, Hemanna S, Hofmann E, Nicin L, Bibli SI, Airik R, Kispert A, Kist R, Quanchao S, Kürschner SW, Winkler M, Gretz N, Mogler C, Korff T, Koch PS, Dimmeler S, Dobreva G, Heineke J.Sci Transl Med. 2024 Feb 28;16(736):eabq4581. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq4581. Epub 2024 Feb 28.PMID: 38416842
Publications by Jacqueline Ho, MD, MSc:
Role of the CCL5 and Its Receptor, CCR5, in the Genesis of Aldosterone-Induced Hypertension, Vascular Dysfunction, and End-Organ Damage.
Costa RM, Cerqueira DM, Bruder-Nascimento A, Alves JV, Awata WMC, Singh S, Kufner A, Prado DS, Johny E, Cifuentes-Pagano E, Hawse WF, Dutta P, Pagano PJ, Ho J, Bruder-Nascimento T.Hypertension. 2024 Apr;81(4):776-786. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.21888. Epub 2024 Jan 19.PMID: 38240165
MicroRNA-19 is regulated by aldosterone in a sex-specific manner to alter kidney sodium transport.
Farrell CE, Liu X, Yagan NO, Suda AC, Cerqueira DM, Bodnar AJ, Kashlan OB, Subramanya AR, Ho J, Butterworth MB.Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2024 Jan 1;326(1):C282-C293. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00385.2023. Epub 2023 Dec 4.PMID: 38047299
Publications by Dana Y. Fuhrman, DO, MS:
Fluid Overload Modifies Hemodynamic Impact of CRRT: Evidence of a Covert Cardiorenal Syndrome?
Thadani S, Lang A, Silos C, Price J, Gelbart B, Typpo K, Horvat C, Fuhrman DY, Neumayr T, Arikan AA.Shock. 2024 Oct 18. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002483. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39454627
Accuracy of the HemoCue® to measure cell-free plasma hemoglobin and detect clinically significant hemolysis.
Butler M, Maywar A, Ruppert K, Fuhrman D, Kim-Campbell N.Perfusion. 2024 Oct 15:2676591241292674. doi: 10.1177/02676591241292674. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39404023
Kidney Health Monitoring in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates: A Modified Delphi Consensus Statement.
Starr MC, Harer MW, Steflik HJ, Gorga S, Ambalavanan N, Beck TM, Chaudhry PM, Chmielewski JL, Defreitas MJ, Fuhrman DY, Hanna M, Joseph C, Kwiatkowski DM, Krawczeski CD, Liberio BM, Menon S, Mohamed TH, Rumpel JA, Sanderson KR, Schuh MP, Segar JL, Slagle CL, Soranno DE, Vuong KT, Charlton JR, Gist KM, Askenazi DJ, Selewski DT; Neonatal Kidney Health Consensus Workshop.JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Sep 3;7(9):e2435043. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35043.PMID: 39269711
Characteristics and Outcomes of Children and Young Adults With Sepsis Requiring Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: A Comparative Analysis From the Worldwide Exploration of Renal Replacement Outcomes Collaborative in Kidney Disease (WE-ROCK).
Stanski NL, Gist KM, Hasson D, Stenson EK, Seo J, Ollberding NJ, Muff-Luett M, Cortina G, Alobaidi R, See E, Kaddourah A, Fuhrman DY; Worldwide Exploration of Renal Replacement Outcomes Collaborative in Kidney Disease (WE-ROCK) Investigators.Crit Care Med. 2024 Nov 1;52(11):1686-1699. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006405. Epub 2024 Sep 11.PMID: 39258974
Characteristics and outcomes of children ≤ 10 kg receiving continuous kidney replacement therapy: a WE-ROCK study.
Menon S, Starr MC, Zang H, Collins M, Damian MA, Fuhrman D, Krallman K, Soranno DE, Webb TN, Slagle C, Joseph C, Martin SD, Mohamed T, Beebe ME, Ricci Z, Ollberding N, Selewski D, Gist KM; WE-ROCK investigators.Pediatr Nephrol. 2025 Jan;40(1):253-264. doi: 10.1007/s00467-024-06438-x. Epub 2024 Aug 20.PMID: 39164502
Major adverse kidney events as an endpoint in acute kidney injury trials: is it time for a RE-MAKE?
Fuhrman DY, Bagshaw SM, Goldstein SL, Legrand M, Shaw AD.Intensive Care Med. 2024 Oct;50(10):1723-1724. doi: 10.1007/s00134-024-07602-5. Epub 2024 Aug 15.PMID: 39145789
New Onset of Nephrotic Syndrome in a 17-year-old.
Bedoyan S, Kurzinski KL, Seynnaeve B, Fuhrman DY.Pediatr Rev. 2024 Aug 1;45(8):461-464. doi: 10.1542/pir.2022-005863.PMID: 39085184
A Comparison of the Anticoagulation Efficacy and Safety of Epoprostenol to Heparin and Citrate in Children Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.
Sondhi E, Stewart M, Harper J, Konyk L, McSteen C, Crowley KL, Kim-Campbell N, Fabio A, Fuhrman DY.Blood Purif. 2024;53(10):838-846. doi: 10.1159/000540302. Epub 2024 Jul 18.PMID: 38991509
Patterns of Multiple Organ Dysfunction and Renal Recovery in Critically Ill Children and Young Adults Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.
Thadani S, Fuhrman D, Hanson C, Park HJ, Angelo J, Srivaths P, Typpo K, Bell MJ, Gist KM, Carcillo J, Akcan-Arikan A.Crit Care Explor. 2024 May 6;6(5):e1084. doi: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000001084. eCollection 2024 May 1.PMID: 38709083
Hemoadsorption: consensus report of the 30th Acute Disease Quality Initiative workgroup.
Bellomo R, Ankawi G, Bagshaw SM, Baldwin I, Basu R, Bottari G, Cantaluppi V, Clark W, De Rosa S, Forni LG, Fuhrman D, Goldstein S, Gomez H, Husain-Syed F, Joannidis M, Kashani K, Lorenzin A, Mehta R, Murray PT, Murugan R, Ostermann M, Pannu N, Premuzic V, Prowle J, Reis T, Rimmelé T, Ronco C, Rosner M, Schneider A, See E, Soranno D, Villa G, Whaley-Connell A, Zarbock A.Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2024 Nov 27;39(12):1945-1964. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfae089.PMID: 38621759
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: Current State and Future Directions for Worldwide Practice.
Gist KM, Fuhrman DY, Deep A, Haga T, Demirkol D, Bell MJ, Akcan-Arikan A.Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2024 Jun 1;25(6):554-560. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003477. Epub 2024 Mar 21.PMID: 38511997
Corrigendum to "Worldwide Exploration of Renal Replacement Outcomes Collaborative in Kidney Disease (WE-ROCK)" [Kidney International Reports Volume 8, Issue 8, August 2023, Pages 1542-1552].
Menon S, Krallman KA, Arikan AA, Fuhrman DY, Gorga SM, Mottes T, Ollberding N, Ricci Z, Stanski NL, Selewski DT, Soranno DE, Zappitelli M, Zang H, Gist KM; WE-ROCK Investigators.Kidney Int Rep. 2024 Jan 12;9(3):732. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2024.01.022. eCollection 2024 Mar.PMID: 38481509
Factors associated with successful liberation from continuous renal replacement therapy in children and young adults: analysis of the worldwide exploration of renal replacement outcomes collaborative in Kidney Disease Registry.
Stenson EK, Alhamoud I, Alobaidi R, Bottari G, Fernandez S, Fuhrman DY, Guzzi F, Haga T, Kaddourah A, Marinari E, Mohamed T, Morgan C, Mottes T, Neumayr T, Ollberding NJ, Raggi V, Ricci Z, See E, Stanski NL, Zang H, Zangla E, Gist KM; WE-ROCK Investigators.Intensive Care Med. 2024 Jun;50(6):861-872. doi: 10.1007/s00134-024-07336-4. Epub 2024 Mar 4.PMID: 38436726
Major Adverse Kidney Events in Pediatric Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy.
Fuhrman DY, Stenson EK, Alhamoud I, Alobaidi R, Bottari G, Fernandez S, Guzzi F, Haga T, Kaddourah A, Marinari E, Mohamed TH, Morgan CJ, Mottes T, Neumayr TM, Ollberding NJ, Raggi V, Ricci Z, See E, Stanski NL, Zang H, Zangla E, Gist KM; WE-ROCK Investigators.JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Feb 5;7(2):e240243. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0243.PMID: 38393726
Concurrent use of continuous kidney replacement therapy during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: what pediatric nephrologists need to know-PCRRT-ICONIC practice points.
Raina R, Nair N, Pelletier J, Nied M, Whitham T, Doshi K, Beck T, Dantes G, Sethi SK, Kim YH, Bunchman T, Alhasan K, Lima L, Guzzo I, Fuhrman D, Paden M.Pediatr Nephrol. 2025 Jan;40(1):267-284. doi: 10.1007/s00467-024-06311-x. Epub 2024 Feb 22.PMID: 38386072
Retrospective Validation of a Computerized Physiologic Equation to Predict Minute Ventilation Needs in Critically Ill Children.
Pelletier JH, Rakkar J, Au AK, Fuhrman DY, Clark RSB, Kochanek PM, Horvat CM.Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2024 May 1;25(5):390-395. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003462. Epub 2024 Feb 8.PMID: 38329377
Pediatric AKI in the real world: changing outcomes through education and advocacy-a report from the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) consensus conference.
Mottes T, Menon S, Conroy A, Jetton J, Dolan K, Arikan AA, Basu RK, Goldstein SL, Symons JM, Alobaidi R, Askenazi DJ, Bagshaw SM, Barhight M, Barreto E, Bayrakci B, Ray ONB 2nd, Bjornstad E, Brophy P, Charlton J, Chanchlani R, Conroy AL, Deep A, Devarajan P, Fuhrman D, Gist KM, Gorga SM, Greenberg JH, Hasson D, Heydari E, Iyengar A, Krawczeski C, Meigs L, Morgan C, Morgan J, Neumayr T, Ricci Z, Selewski DT, Soranno D, Stanski N, Starr M, Sutherland SM, Symons J, Tavares M, Vega M, Zappitelli M, Ronco C, Mehta RL, Kellum J, Ostermann M; ADQI 26 workgroup.Pediatr Nephrol. 2024 Mar;39(3):1005-1014. doi: 10.1007/s00467-023-06180-w. Epub 2023 Nov 7.PMID: 37934273
A proposed framework for advancing acute kidney injury risk stratification and diagnosis in children: a report from the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) conference.
Fuhrman DY, Stanski NL, Krawczeski CD, Greenberg JH, Arikan AAA, Basu RK, Goldstein SL, Gist KM; ADQI 26 workgroup.Pediatr Nephrol. 2024 Mar;39(3):929-939. doi: 10.1007/s00467-023-06133-3. Epub 2023 Sep 5.PMID: 37670082
Publications by Sunder Sims-Lucas, PhD:
Cystic fibrosis-related metabolic defects: crosstalk between ion channels and organs.
Sims-Lucas S, Goetzman ES, Kleyman TR.J Clin Invest. 2024 Jul 1;134(13):e182329. doi: 10.1172/JCI182329.PMID: 38949023
A genetically inducible endothelial niche enables vascularization of human kidney organoids with multilineage maturation and emergence of renin expressing cells.
Maggiore JC, LeGraw R, Przepiorski A, Velazquez J, Chaney C, Vanichapol T, Streeter E, Almuallim Z, Oda A, Chiba T, Silva-Barbosa A, Franks J, Hislop J, Hill A, Wu H, Pfister K, Howden SE, Watkins SC, Little MH, Humphreys BD, Kiani S, Watson A, Stolz DB, Davidson AJ, Carroll T, Cleaver O, Sims-Lucas S, Ebrahimkhani MR, Hukriede NA.Kidney Int. 2024 Dec;106(6):1086-1100. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.05.026. Epub 2024 Jun 18.PMID: 38901605
Succinylation of Park7 activates a protective metabolic response to acute kidney injury.
Pfister K, Young V, Frankel B, Silva Barbosa A, Burton J, Bons J, Zhang B, Chiba T, Uhlean R, Goetzman E, Schilling B, Sims-Lucas S.Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2024 Jul 1;327(1):F128-F136. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00062.2024. Epub 2024 May 2.PMID: 38695076
Dietary dicarboxylic acids provide a non-storable alternative fat source that protects mice against obesity.
Goetzman ES, Zhang BB, Zhang Y, Bharathi SS, Bons J, Rose J, Shah S, Solo KJ, Schmidt AV, Richert AC, Mullett SJ, Gelhaus SL, Rao KS, Shiva SS, Pfister KE, Silva Barbosa A, Sims-Lucas S, Dobrowolski SF, Schilling B.J Clin Invest. 2024 Apr 30;134(12):e174186. doi: 10.1172/JCI174186. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38687608
In utero exposure to maternal diabetes exacerbates dietary sodium intake-induced endothelial dysfunction by activating cyclooxygenase 2-derived prostanoids.
Costa RM, Cerqueira DM, Francis L, Bruder-Nascimento A, Alves JV, Sims-Lucas S, Ho J, Bruder-Nascimento T.Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2024 May 1;326(5):E555-E566. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00009.2024. Epub 2024 Mar 6.PMID: 38446637
Dicarboxylic Acid Dietary Supplementation Protects against AKI.
Silva Barbosa AC, Pfister KE, Chiba T, Bons J, Rose JP, Burton JB, King CD, O'Broin A, Young V, Zhang B, Sivakama B, Schmidt AV, Uhlean R, Oda A, Schilling B, Goetzman ES, Sims-Lucas S.J Am Soc Nephrol. 2024 Feb 1;35(2):135-148. doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000000000266. Epub 2023 Dec 4.PMID: 38044490
Publications by Catherine S. Forster, MD, MS, FAAP:
Urinary Tract Infection and Neuropathic Bladder.
Ross SS, Forster CS, Borawski K.Urol Clin North Am. 2024 Nov;51(4):551-559. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2024.06.009. Epub 2024 Aug 17.PMID: 39349022
Accuracy of Urinalysis for UTI in Spina Bifida.
Forster CS, Miller RG, Gibeau A, Meyer T, Kamanzi S, Shaikh N, Chu DI.Pediatrics. 2024 Jul 1;154(1):e2023065192. doi: 10.1542/peds.2023-065192.PMID: 38845550
Remaining diagnostic and treatment uncertainties for urinary tract infections in children with genitourinary anomalies.
Forster CS, Wallace SS.J Hosp Med. 2024 Jul;19(7):654-655. doi: 10.1002/jhm.13383. Epub 2024 Apr 28.PMID: 38678441
Frequency of Treatment Failure of UTIs in Children With Congenital Urinary Tract Anomalies.
Forster CS, Wood AC, Davis-Rodriguez S, Chang PW, Desai S, Tchou M, Morrison JM, Mudd JD, Casey BD, Trevisanut V, Hamdy RF, Vemulakonda V, Brady PW, Wallace SS; UTI in Children with CAKUT Study Group.Hosp Pediatr. 2024 Mar 1;14(3):189-196. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2023-007427.PMID: 38374793