{"id":2675,"date":"2025-09-17T15:06:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T05:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdev.sydney.edu.au\/kolling\/research-group\/renal-research\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:32:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T03:32:18","slug":"renal-research","status":"publish","type":"research-group","link":"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/research-group\/renal-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Renal Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/kidney.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3029\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/kidney.jpg 400w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/kidney-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The renal research team\u2019s overarching goal is to improve the lives of patients with chronic kidney disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are working to achieve this by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Generating new knowledge about the cause of progressive kidney disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing new diagnostic tests to predict those who will develop kidney failure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discovering new medicines to prevent and treat kidney disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Applying our discoveries to human clinical trials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bringing new tests and therapies to market with our industry colleagues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We collaborate internationally, with pharmaceutical companies and smaller Australian biotech companies to transfer our research into clinical relevance. We are currently involved in many clinical trials investigating chronic kidney disease, dialysis and transplantation. In some cases, we are the international or national lead in these trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have had continuous peer-reviewed research funding for the last 28 years from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, JDRF &#8211; formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Diabetes Australia, the University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital through the Ramsay Research Fund. We are also grateful for generous donations and philanthropic support, especially from the EMORGO and MAST Foundations, the Hillcrest Trust and generous individuals. This funding not only supports our important research, but helps to train the next generation of researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;--etb-a-tab-btn-bg-color:#FFFFFF;--etb-a-tab-btn-text-color:#ab40a1;--etb-a-tab-btn-heading-color:#ffffff;--etb-a-tab-bt-style:none;--etb-a-tab-bt-width:0px;--etb-a-tab-br-style:none;--etb-a-tab-br-width:0px;--etb-a-tab-bb-style:none;--etb-a-tab-bb-width:0px;--etb-a-tab-bl-style:none;--etb-a-tab-bl-width:0px;--etb-h-tab-btn-bg-color:#ffffff;--etb-h-tab-btn-text-color:#000000;--etb-h-tab-btn-heading-color:#000000;--etb-h-tab-bt-style:none;--etb-h-tab-bt-width:0px;--etb-h-tab-br-style:none;--etb-h-tab-br-width:0px;--etb-h-tab-bb-style:none;--etb-h-tab-bb-width:0px;--etb-h-tab-bl-style:none;--etb-h-tab-bl-width:0px;--etb-scroll-arrows-icon-color:#ab40a1\" class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tabs has-active-etb-bg-color has-active-etb-text-color has-active-etb-heading-color has-active-etb-border has-hover-etb-bg-color has-hover-etb-text-color has-hover-etb-heading-color has-hover-etb-border\" data-id=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\" data-initial-tab=\"1\" data-trigger=\"click\"><div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tabs-inner is-layout-flow wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tabs-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"etb-tabs-buttons-scrollable-with-arrows\"><div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-buttons has-etb-buttons-scrollable is-layout-flex wp-container-easy-tabs-block-tab-buttons-is-layout-d7af6e26 wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Icons_lead-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1098\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Lead<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Icons_people-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1114\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">People<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Icons_network-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1103\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Network<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Icons_projects-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1120\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Projects<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-button\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"43\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/root_Icons_publications-icon2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2818\" style=\"width:20px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Publications<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><button class=\"etb-scroll-button left\" aria-label=\"Scroll to the left\"><span class=\"chevron-left\"><\/span><\/button><button class=\"etb-scroll-button right\" aria-label=\"Scroll to the right\"><span class=\"chevron-right\"><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-contents has-border-color has-accent-6-border-color\" style=\"border-width:1px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">    <div class=\"team-block-page\">\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Professor-Carol-Pollock.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"Professor Carol Pollock\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Professor Carol Pollock<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p class=\"is-style-text-subtitle\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.191), 0.98rem);\">Renal Research<br>Medicine, Northern Clinical School<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">    <div class=\"team-block-page\">\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Associate-Professor-Sonia-Saad.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"Associate Professor Sonia Saad\u00a0\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Associate Professor Sonia Saad<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p class=\"is-style-text-subtitle\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.191), 0.98rem);\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-accent-3-color\">Co-Chair, Cardiovascular and Renal<\/mark><\/strong><br>Postdoctoral Scientist, Renal Research<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"181\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Dr-Chunling-Huang-181x233-1.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dr Chunling Huang\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Chunling Huang<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Senior Research Fellow<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"183\" height=\"275\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Sarah-Glastrous.jpeg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Professor Sarah Glastras<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Head of Department, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism.<br>Principal Research Lead, Pregnancy, Obesity and Diabetes, Kolling Institute, the University of Sydney.<br><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"181\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Dr-Long-Nguyen.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dr Long Nguyen\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Long Nguyen<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Research Fellow<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"181\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Dr-Qinghua-Cao-181x230-1.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dr Jessica (Qinghua) Cao Dr\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Jessica (Qinghua) Cao Dr<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Research Fellow<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Matilda-Longfield-Staff-Photo-200x300.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dr Matilda Longfield\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Matilda-Longfield-Staff-Photo-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Matilda-Longfield-Staff-Photo-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Matilda-Longfield-Staff-Photo-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Matilda-Longfield-Staff-Photo-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Matilda-Longfield-Staff-Photo-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Team_Matilda-Longfield-Staff-Photo-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Matilda Longfield<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Bruce Cooper<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Amanda Mather<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Emma O\u2019Lone<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Sarah Roxburgh<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Stefanie Stangenberg<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Yvonne Shen<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Paul Collett<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Stella McGinn<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Professor Vlado Perkovic<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Yan Li<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Amanda Siriwardana<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Sara Rendo<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Helen Clayton<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dawn Ngai<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Anna Tam<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Natassia Rodrigo<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>PhD Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Dr Evelyn Staub<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>PhD Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Peter (Ji) Bian<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>Research Officer<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Tessa Weir<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>PhD Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Henry Wu<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Research Affiliate<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Murali Gangadharan Komala<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>Visiting researcher<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Amanda Purcell \u2013 PhD Student<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Qinrui (Daisy) Chen<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>PhD Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Wenyang (Roland) Shi<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>PhD Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>(Thi Kim) Chi Tran<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>PhD Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Linda Wu<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>Research Assistant<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Yuting (Leonie) Zhang<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>Honours Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Angela Pan<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>Medical Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Naveen Parthiban<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>Research Placement Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Xindi Chen<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>MPhil Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>(Wun Chang) Victor Lim<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>MD Project Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Iris Joo<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        <p>MD Research Project Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Marie-Alexandre (Malex) Adom<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>MD Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Melissa Lamarque<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Honours Student<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Ruby Main<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Honours Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Kushalee Jayawickreme<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Research Fellow<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>Maria Bilal<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>PhD Student<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"team-member\">\n                                <div class=\"team-member-content\">\n                    <h3>John Killen<\/h3>\n                    <div class=\"team-content\">\n                        \n<p>Visiting Researcher<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<p>The Renal Laboratory in the Kolling Institute is networked with<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Basic renal researchers in Sydney through Sydney Health Partners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Basic renal researchers nationally and internationally on a project specific basis. This enables overseas researchers to spend time in Renal Research at the Kolling and for our researchers to interact with laboratories overseas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biotech and Pharma support nationally and internationally to develop novel therapeutics: Pharmaxis, Adalta, Mitokinin,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clinical renal Researchers nationally and internationally through the Australian Kidney Trials Network, the George Institute and Pharma Clinical trial networks. Several global renal clinical trials are lead regionally or nationally by renal researchers at the Kolling Institute.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our current research projects include:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Targeting inflammatory pathways known to be upregulated in kidney disease.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>These studies are done in conjunction with ADALTA, an Australian Biotech company, using patented shark antibodies. They have been highly promising in preventing the development and treating established chronic kidney disease due to a variety of causes. A PhD student (Q Cao) and two post-doctoral researchers (XM Chen and C Huang) work on this project and we hope that our initial results will help take the compounds forward to the next stage of clinical trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Limiting kidney scarring in models of transplantation to ensure longevity of transplant kidney function.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>These studies are done in collaboration with Pharmaxis, an Australian biotech company, and with the support of a generous donor. The experiments aim to test whether inhibiting the assembly of collagen fibres that form scar tissue can reduce the development of scarring after a kidney transplant. Drugs used to prevent rejection can have the adverse effect of causing kidney scarring. The experiments currently underway will determine whether new compounds developed by Pharmaxis and shown by our group to limit scarring in models of diabetes will limit transplant glomerulopathy. This is the most common cause of kidney failure after transplantation. If positive these studies will move to clinical trial. The studies are supported by early and more established post-doctoral scientists (Dr Nguyen and A\/Prof Saad)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Non-invasive determination of patients at risk of progressive diabetic\/non-diabetic kidney disease.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We recognise that only 30-40 per cent of patients with diabetes develop renal failure. This project studies the characteristics of kidney cells excreted into the urine of patients with diabetes and no kidney disease, stable or progressive kidney disease. It aims to determine whether specific characteristics detected by advanced microscopy techniques will avoid the need for renal biopsy and identify patients very early who are at risk of progressive kidney disease. The study is done in collaboration with the University of Sydney and UNSW with the support of the MAST and EMORGO Foundations. It is conducted by established and emerging researchers (A\/Prof Saad, Dr Wong, Dr Nguyen)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Prevention of chronic kidney disease though limiting transmission of maternal to foetal risk of chronic kidney disease<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies primarily undertaken by Dr Sarah Glastras and A\/Prof Saad have demonstrated that maternal obesity and smoking lead to an increased risk of chronic kidney disease to the offspring. Studies are currently being undertaken to determine whether mothers taking a low dose of blood pressure lowering medication, currently used safely in pregnancy, will lower this risk. Validation of the changes in gene expression caused by obesity occur in both experimental models and obese people. Whether changes in gene expression persist in patients with diabetic kidney disease will be tested in large data bases accessible to Prof Pollock. These studies are partly supported by the EMORGO Foundation and also by PhD students Drs B Larkin and N Rodriguez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Fibre supplements to improve glycaemic control and reduce chronic kidney disease<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We hypothesise that fibre supplements may directly lower the blood glucose but secondarily modify the gut microbiome to increase short chain fatty acids that induce hormonal changes to decrease blood sugar levels and directly improve kidney function. These studies are undertaken by A\/Prof Saad and PhD student A Zaky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Metformin to reduce renal pathology<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Metformin has long been used for glycaemic control. However, it is only recently recognised that it may have an independent effect in protecting the kidney. These studies are being undertaken by A\/Prof Chen, Dr Huang and PhD student Hao Li.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Normalising the function of the mitochondria in progressive chronic kidney disease<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Huang has demonstrated that impaired function of the mitochondria contributes to the development of diabetic kidney disease. She has been primarily responsible for developing a collaboration between the USA based biotech Mitokinin to assess mitochondrial therapeutics in chronic kidney disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Development of therapeutics against promising targets in chronic kidney disease<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Shi demonstrated in her recently completed PhD, the receptor-interacting protein Kinase -3 was key in the development of progressive kidney disease (in diabetic and non-diabetic models). However, inhibiting receptor-interacting protein Kinase -3 is challenging. A\/Prof Chen and Dr Shi have formed a collaboration with a small Australian biotech, Phylogica, and the Murdoch Institute to develop targeted gene therapy and new delivery systems to ensure the culprit genes are \u201cturned off\u201d in the kidney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Targeting non-coding RNA to limit diabetic kidney disease<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Non-coding RNA was until recently thought of as \u201cjunk\u201d. We now recognise that although it doesn\u2019t code for proteins, it significantly regulates the genes that do code for protein and hence can affect the development of kidney disease. A\/Prof Panchapakesan has demonstrated that novel areas of long non-coding RNA affect genes that regulate the structure and function of kidney cells and hence targeting with gene therapy may prove fruitful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. The role of cilia in the development of non-cystic progressive kidney disease<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary cilia on kidney cells are finger-like projections that serve as &#8220;antennae&#8221; to transmit abnormal signals in the flow and composition of the urine to influence kidney cell responses. These abnormalities occur in chronic kidney disease and lead to scarring and kidney failure. This proposal aims to investigate an important ciliary component called c2cd3 as a therapeutic target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Diabetic kidney disease-early detection and potential treatment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Some patients progress to advanced chronic kidney disease and end stage kidney disease while others with seemingly similar clinical circumstances remain stable. Hence, new markers for early diagnosis and chronic kidney disease progression are critically needed. Using an animal model which reflects human disease, we have recently identified new potential markers for diabetic kidney disease progression. During this project we will confirm if those genes predict progressive kidney disease in a cross-sectional study of patients with T2D and advanced chronic kidney disease compared to T2D patients without chronic kidney disease. We have access to those samples from two recently completed clinical trials. Hence, the project will determine possible biomarkers to identify patients at risk of chronic kidney disease progression before the development of disease for early intervention. This will have a great impact on the diabetic population in Australia and worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-easy-tabs-block-tab-content etb-animation-slide-up\" data-selector=\"714ada94-6206-4808-ab8d-b988c2b59f0a\">\n<p><strong>RESEARCH OUTPUT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2018<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; 11 publications<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2019<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; 16 publications<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/carol.pollock.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/carol.pollock.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/xin-ming.chen.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/xin-ming.chen.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/usha.panchapakesan.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/usha.panchapakesan.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/sonia.saad.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/sonia.saad.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/muhgeot.wong.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/muhgeot.wong.php<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/chunling.huang.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/chunling.huang.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/sarah.glastras.php#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/sydney.edu.au\/medicine\/people\/academics\/profiles\/sarah.glastras.php#publications-by-year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sydney.edu.au\/medicine-health\/about\/our-people\/academic-staff\/long-t-nguyen.html#publications-by-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.sydney.edu.au\/medicine-health\/about\/our-people\/academic-staff\/long-t-nguyen.html#publications-by-year<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/scientific-contributions\/Qinghua-Cao-2138260509\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/scientific-contributions\/Qinghua-Cao-2138260509<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":418,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"research-group-tax":[],"primary-research-area":[58],"class_list":["post-2675","research-group","type-research-group","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","primary-research-area-cardiovascular-and-renal"],"acf":{"team_leads":[3186],"team_members":[3182,3564,3187,3565,3566,3567,3528,3532,3524,3527,3533,3526,3534,3525,3535,3536,3537,3538,3539,3540,3541,3500,3542,3543,3544,3545,3546,3547,3549,3550,3551,3552,3553,3554,3557,3558,3560,3562,4632,5007,5008,5009,5010,5150]},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Renal-Clinical-Trials-banner-scaled.jpg",2560,825,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Renal-Clinical-Trials-banner-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Renal-Clinical-Trials-banner-300x97.jpg",300,97,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Renal-Clinical-Trials-banner-768x247.jpg",768,247,true],"large":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Renal-Clinical-Trials-banner-1024x330.jpg",1024,330,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Renal-Clinical-Trials-banner-1536x495.jpg",1536,495,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/root_Banners_Renal-Clinical-Trials-banner-2048x660.jpg",2048,660,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"quoc.nguyen4@health.nsw.gov.au","author_link":"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/staging\/author\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The renal research team\u2019s overarching goal is to improve the lives of patients with chronic kidney disease. 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