Clinical Track (2 years)
The objective of the clinical track is to prepare fellows for either academic or community-based clinical practice in nephrology. In addition to receiving broad exposure to clinical nephrology, several pathways exist that allow fellows on this track to develop a subspecialty focus and receive protected time to pursue a mentored scholarly activity.
Clinical and Translational Research Track (3 years)
The clinical and translational research track prepares fellows for an academic career in clinical or translational science. Following their first clinical year, trainees have 2 years of mentored research training supported by our NIH TL1 training grant.
Most fellows in this track leverage the extensive research training opportunities at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health, Kidney Research Institute, Center for Dialysis Innovation, Department of Global Health, or VA Puget Sound’s Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence. To be eligible for our NIH TL1 training grant, trainees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The objective of the basic science research track is to prepare fellows for an independent career as a physician-scientist. This three-year program starts with a first clinical year followed by two years of mentored research training. This track allows trainees to acquire skills predominantly in the molecular, biochemical, and cellular aspects of kidney-related research and to understand how this basic research translates from bench to bedside. Our NIH TL1 training grant supports most individuals undertaking basic research training during their research years.
Basic Science Research (3 Years)
The Basic Science Research Training Program is a three-year program with a first clinical year and two research years. Trainees on this training track acquire skills predominantly in the molecular, biochemical, and cellular aspects of kidney-related research and learn how to translate this basic research from the bench to the bedside.
An NIH training grant, "Research Training in Renal Disease", supports most individuals undertaking laboratory research training in their research years, and they must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Emphasis will be on the acquisition of laboratory skills, experimental design, data analysis, and an in-depth understanding of the relevant research literature
- Supplemental training and experience in Immunology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Biologic Structure, and other departments
- Options for formal coursework in molecular biology, statistics, and mechanisms of disease. Trainees may pursue other topics depending on their interests.
- Biomedical research integrity training is required to retain NIH training grant support.
We strongly encourage Ph.D.s to apply. The goals are to enable trainees to utilize their molecular and cellular skills and knowledge towards disease-based processes. Ph.D. trainees will specifically focus on kidney injury and repair.
MD/Ph.D. Curriculum
- Cell Culture basic methods with cell lines, generation of primary cells development of cell-based assays with examples of functional readouts.
- Molecular biology: from PCR methods through to molecular cloning of genes. Use of bacteria to generate copies of DNA sequencing.
- Mouse genetics: modern genetic tools and pitfalls
- Bioinformatics platforms and their uses: multiplexing, arrays, mini-arrays. Analysis of data.
- Designing experiments: controls, timepoints, timecourses, critical endpoints, basic statistical approaches
Ph.D. Curriculum
- Nephrogenesis and anatomy
- Kidney physiology
- Kidney pathologies, terminologies, and specialized cells of the kidney
- Kidney-related gene defects in humans
- Systemic diseases that have kidney disease as a component
- Vascular and metabolic, and endocrine consequences of chronic kidney disease