Feng Qian, PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore

The Qian laboratory focus on the role Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a group of inherited diseases characterized by dilatation of the tubular units of the kidney. The kidney tubules normally process the 140 liters of fluid filtered by the glomerulus into the final urine volume (0.5-2.0 liters) every day. Cystic tubules are unable to perform this function properly, resulting in fluid retention and kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation. PKD research has not only a great impact on human kidney disease, but can also shed critical insights into the fundamental mechanisms that control the polarity of tubular epithelial cells and the diameter of a tubule structure. Research in their laboratory examines the molecular mechanisms of processing and trafficking of PKD proteins (polycystin-1, polycystin-2, and polyductin). They seek to elucidate the normal PKD signaling pathways and to understand the cellular pathways that are altered when the respective PKD genes are mutated, using a combination of biochemical, biophysical, cell biological methods and animal models.

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