Nephrology & Hypertension

At the University of Louisville Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, we are committed to transforming kidney care through outstanding clinical services, innovative research, and world‑class education. Our multidisciplinary faculty blends compassionate patient care with cutting‑edge science, driving advances in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney diseases.

Leaders in Clinical Care

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Patients and referring providers turn to UofL for comprehensive expertise across the full spectrum of kidney and blood pressure disorders. Our division provides:

• Personalized, evidence‑based care for chronic kidney disease (CKD), glomerular diseases, hypertension, and kidney failure.
• State‑of-the-art renal replacement services, including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and transplant nephrology.
• A specialized Glomerular Disease Clinic, offering expert diagnosis and management of complex glomerulonephritis. The clinic is led by renowned faculty who also serve as advisors to KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) committees, bringing international guideline expertise directly to patient care.
• A one-of-a-kind Interventional Nephrology center, among the few centers in the country, providing advanced procedures such as ultrasound-guided renal biopsies of native and transplanted kidneys, vascular access evaluation, and fistula and graft management. This dedicated suite enables rapid, precise, and minimally invasive interventions to optimize patient outcomes in a timely manner.
• Comprehensive Kidney Transplant Care at UofL Health – Trager Transplant Center, the only center in Kentuckiana offering all five types of solid organ transplants. Since 1964, our kidney transplant program has delivered exceptional care and lasting results, including Kentucky’s first non-related living kidney-donor transplant. The team specializes in complex and high-risk cases, including use of Hepatitis positive organs, transplantation in HIV-positive recipients, ensuring patients receive cutting-edge, personalized transplant care close to home.
• Onco-Nephrology – Bridging oncology and nephrology, our division studies how cancer and its treatments impact kidney function. In collaboration with the Brown Cancer Center, we provide expert clinical care for patients with cancer-related kidney complications while advancing research in the growing field of onco-nephrology, improving understanding, prevention, and management of renal complications from chemotherapy and cancer therapies.
• Interdisciplinary approaches to care — including hypertension, lupus nephritis, nephrolithiasis, and transplant complications — that prioritize patient outcomes and quality of life. Diversity, equity, and inclusion guide our clinical environment and ensure culturally respectful, patient-centered care at every level.

Leading Edge Research and Discovery

The Nephrology research program at the University of Louisville is recognized as one of the first to apply proteomic methods to identify biomarkers of kidney disease and played a pivotal role in the discovery of PLA2R, THSD7A, and HTRA1 as target antigens in membranous nephropathy. The research program integrates innovative, state-of-the-art proteomics, molecular biology, and translational science to advance the understanding, detection, and treatment of kidney disorders. Leveraging mass spectrometry–based proteomics, systems biology, and clinical phenotyping, our teams identify molecular signatures of renal injury, elucidate disease mechanisms, and develop biomarkers for early diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic monitoring. Faculty investigators are nationally recognized for defining the immunologic and cellular drivers of glomerular diseases including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and lupus nephritis, with translational programs focused on biomarkers and inflammatory mechanisms.

Research spans different areas of chronic kidney disease physiology (CKD), such as autoimmune-mediated nephropathies, the impact of environmental and metabolic factors on kidney dysfunction, with strong emphasis on translational research and precision medicine. Clinical research focuses on personalized treatment of various CKD-related comorbidities, as well as innovative ways for monitoring CKD progression and interventions to slow down and prevent CKD. Some of the products of this research have found successful clinical applications.

Fellows and faculty also engage in interdisciplinary projects in clinical research, industry sponsored trials in access research, and transplant outcomes. Through technology-driven and collaborative approaches, we aim to bridge fundamental discoveries with patient-centered applications, fostering innovation that advances kidney health.

A Premier Academic and Training Destination

As part of a leading academic medical center, we provide an exceptional educational environment for medical students, residents, and fellows. Our robust training programs emphasize:

• Advanced clinical rotations in chronic kidney disease, hypertension, glomerular disease, transplantation, and interventional nephrology.
• Solid organ transplants, extracorporeal therapies, interventional nephrology, critical care nephrology all make this a unique learning environment for fellows.
• Hands-on translational research opportunities that bridge bench and bedside.
• Mentorship by faculty who are nationally and internationally respected clinicians, educators, and scientists. 

Collaborative and Impactful Scholarship

The Division of Nephrology & Hypertension fosters a culture of scholarship and mentorship, with world renowned faculty actively publishing in high-impact journals and contributing to national guidelines and scientific discourse. Through interdisciplinary partnerships, we promote innovation that addresses unmet clinical needs and elevates standards of kidney care.

Engaging Our Community and Advancing Public Health

We are dedicated to kidney health education for patients, caregivers, and the broader community — advancing awareness about risk factors, prevention strategies, and treatment options for kidney and blood pressure disorders.