Name: Kelly A. McLaughlin

Research Description:

Over 20 million Americans are affected by kidney and urologica diseases. It is estimated that more than 50,000 Americans die each year due to kidney disease, and more than 260,000 suffer from chronic kidney failure and need to use artificial kidney machine or undergo kidney transplantation in order to stay alive. The study of kidney development is of obvious importance to understanding kidney function and disease. Although much has been learned about kidney disease and function over the years, relatively little is known about the process involved in the initial formation of this important organ. By completing the research described above, it will be possible to examine home signaling pathways like the Notch pathway, are involved in creating a functional, embryonic kidney. Because all forms of the kidney, including pro- and mesonephroi are susceptible to various forms of cancer and disease (Carlson, 1988; Wallingford et al., 1998) this type of experimentation is of great value to the study of nephrology.

Lab Memberships

McLaughlin Lab (Principal Investigator/Director)

Contact Information

Address:
Department of Biology
Dana Hall
163 Packard Ave.
Tufts University
Medford, MA
2155, USA

Email: kelly.mclaughlin@tufts.edu
Web Page: http://ase.tufts.edu/biology/labs/mclaughlin/
Phone:  617 627-4154
Fax:  617 627-3805