This is a new K08 application, the purpose of which is to provide training and a mentored research environment for the candidate, Dr. Juan Carlos Q. Velez, at the Medical University of South Carolina. MUSC is part of South Carolina's largest medical complex with 140,000 ft2 dedicated to research laboratory space and a multidisciplinary University Research Resource Facility (URRF) that contains shared resources available to investigators including: Advanced Image Analysis;Gene targeting and Knockout Mouse Facility;Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, and an established Mass Spectrometry Facility. Candidate. The candidate is a new full-time tenure-track assistant professor in the Division of Nephrology, at the MUSC. He is an up-and-coming young clinician-scientist that has a track record of two awards in basic science research during his early career and one recent first-author publication in a prestigious peer-reviewed journal. He possesses professional qualities highly suited for KO8 sponsorship. Dr. Velez has outlined a plan to develop a successful independently funded laboratory and to gain experience necessary to maintain a productive scientific career relevant to kidney research. To ensure these goals are met, Dr. Velez has assembled a highly qualified mentorship committee of scientists who have extensive track records in obtaining extramural funding and maintaining successful research laboratories. Research Proposal. The proposal has been designed to include a focused hypothesis-driven series of experiments that will yield insight into mechanisms of hormonal regulation within the kidney glomerulus and their relationship with pathways that lead to progressive kidney diseases. Specifically, the proposal is focused on examining the balance between intraglomerular angiotensin-II and other angiotensin metabolites and the role that glomerular podocytes play in that system. The goal of the research proposal is to establish a foundation of technical knowledge and expertise by which a long-term research program can be established.

Public Health Relevance

The studies outlined herein will add to the understanding of the existing mechanisms within the kidney to counterbalance the actions of the hormone angiotensin-II. Twenty million American have chronic kidney disease and many others are on risk of acquiring it. Pharmacological blockade of angiotensin-II constitutes the only FDA-approved therapy available. Despite receiving this therapy, a significant percentage of the affected patients continue to progress to the end-stage form of the disease. Better understanding of the mechanisms of in the kidney should lead to therapies that can directly target. These therapies would improve both quality and length of life of affected individuals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08DK080944-02
Application #
7622073
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Rankin, Tracy L
Project Start
2008-07-01
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$149,526
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical University of South Carolina
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
183710748
City
Charleston
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29425
Velez, Juan Carlos Q; Arif, Ehtesham; Rodgers, Jessalyn et al. (2017) Deficiency of the Angiotensinase Aminopeptidase A Increases Susceptibility to Glomerular Injury. J Am Soc Nephrol 28:2119-2132
Velez, Juan Carlos Q; Janech, Michael G; Hicks, Megan P et al. (2014) Lack of renoprotective effect of chronic intravenous angiotensin-(1-7) or angiotensin-(2-10) in a rat model of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. PLoS One 9:e110083
Spainhour, John Christian G; Janech, Michael G; Schwacke, John H et al. (2014) The application of Gaussian mixture models for signal quantification in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of peptides. PLoS One 9:e111016
Schwacke, John H; Spainhour, John Christian G; Ierardi, Jessalyn L et al. (2013) Network modeling reveals steps in angiotensin peptide processing. Hypertension 61:690-700
Velez, Juan Carlos Q (2013) Prolyl carboxypeptidase: a forgotten kidney angiotensinase. Focus on ""Identification of prolyl carboxypeptidase as an alternative enzyme for processing of renal angiotensin II using mass spectrometry"". Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 304:C939-40
Velez, Juan Carlos Q; Ierardi, Jessalyn L; Bland, Alison M et al. (2012) Enzymatic processing of angiotensin peptides by human glomerular endothelial cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 302:F1583-94
Velez, Juan Carlos Q; Ryan, Kevin J; Harbeson, Caroline E et al. (2009) Angiotensin I is largely converted to angiotensin (1-7) and angiotensin (2-10) by isolated rat glomeruli. Hypertension 53:790-7