Research Summary

I study a group of autoimmune diseases that affect the kidney called glomerulonephritis (GN). These diseases disproportionately affect younger and otherwise healthy people. Although GN is treatable, it is often with very strong immune suppressing medications that have many side effects, and patients may progressively lose kidney function and need to start dialysis despite treatment. The goal of my research is to improve the outcome and clinical care of patients with GN. I use large research and administrative databases to study risk factors and outcomes in GN so that these can be used to guide the clinical care of GN patients. I study methods of healthcare delivery in GN, and have developed a provincial health administrative body through the BC Provincial Renal Agency called the BC GN Network that focuses on improving health services in BC for GN patients. I also run clinical trials that investigate new medications to treat GN that prevent progression to dialysis but with fewer side effects.