Jennifer A. Schaub, MD

2024 Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant

Institution: University of Michigan

Project Title: A systems biology approach to identify cortical and medullary gene regulatory networks related to Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1A

How would you sum up your overall research focus in one sentence?

I hope to help identify sub-phenotypes of AKI and CKD, so we can identify more treatments for these patients.

Provide a brief overview of the research you will conduct with help from the grant.

We will be obtaining multiome data from paired cortical and medullary kidney tissue specimens to ultimately better understand how the medullary milieu contributes to adaptive and degenerative cell states.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

I'm attracted to common syndromes where our clinical management seems to be the same for each patient and largely consists of supportive care, such as AKI and CKD.  To me, these are areas where we have an opportunity to improve our care for many patients.

What impact do you hope your research will have on patients?

If any of my work can help better phenotype patients with kidney disease to provide them with better therapies, I would be delighted.

What are your career goals at the end of the grant period? Five years out? Ten years out?

At the end of the grant period, I hope to have successfully obtained independent funding looking at mechanisms and sub-phenotypes of AKI and CKD.  Hopefully, I can then leverage this into a long-lasting research career.

What has surprised you most about your career?

I have been very surprised by all the people who have been willing to give me a chance.

In one sentence, please describe the importance of having grant funding available through KidneyCure.

I am particularly grateful to have this grant as my K award largely coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, and this funding provides an opportunity to further mature my research.

What advice would you give to others to encourage them to apply for this grant funding?

It never hurts to try!

Something you may not know about me is…

I speak Spanish somewhat decently.

In my free time, I like to…

Spend time with my family, go birdwatching and play cello.