Jeannine Basta, PhD, Assistant Professor of Research in the Division of Nephrology, has been awarded a Norman Siegel Research Scholar Grant by the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and KidneyCure.
The two-year, $200,000 grant will fund her project: Investigation of Nephron Maturation and Cessation in a Mouse Model that Disrupts Sall1/NuRD Interaction.
“The kidney field has made much progress in identifying the molecular mechanisms responsible for the early patterning of the kidney,” says Dr. Basta. “However, I’m surprised at how much there is still to be discovered about nephron maturation, cessation, and post-natal development. With the advances in single cell technologies and next generation sequencing there is so much knowledge to be unlocked.”
Dr. Basta and colleagues have developed mutant mice that exhibit accelerated differentiation of nephron progenitor cells, pre-mature nephron cessation, and loss of the loop of Henle. The mice will be used to identify the mechanisms that regulate nephron cessation and loop of Henle specification, elongation, and maturation.
The goal is to develop strategies to prolong nephrogenesis when needed, such as in pre-term infants, or reprogram the mature kidney to regenerate new nephrons after kidney injury. More information about the project can be found here.
The Norman Siegel Research Scholar Grant, awarded to one biomedical investigator per year, is part of the KidneyCure Transition to Independence Grants (TIG) Program, which helps young investigators achieve independent research careers. It is supported by contributions provided by ASN, Akebia Therapeutics, Inc., and individual donors. (Read about Dr. Siegel’s illustrious career here.)
Dr. Basta has been with WashU Nephrology since 2018, joining the laboratory of Michael Rauchman, MDCM, Chromalloy Professor of Medicine. She earned her PhD at Saint Louis University under Dr. Rauchman’s mentorship, studying the transcriptional control of multipotent nephron progenitor cells in the developing kidney. She continued her research in embryonic kidney development as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Rauchman laboratory at SLU before he returned to WashU Nephrology.
Please visit the Rauchman Laboratory to learn more about the group’s exciting research.
Discover more about Dr. Basta’s career as a researcher and life as a busy mother of three in the excellent interview in KidneyCure Spotlights/Q&A.
On Twitter, keep up to date with our Division @WUNephrology.
Dr. Jeannine Basta in WashU Nephrology News:
Follow this link to see all of the 2022 KidneyCure Grant Recipients.
