Nephrology
The Division of Nephrology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a leading center for patient care, research, and education, serving a diverse population across Virginia. Our team includes more than 20 full-time clinicians and research faculty, advanced practice providers, and nurses dedicated to advancing kidney health.
Comprehensive Kidney Care
Clinical Services
We offer a robust inpatient and outpatient kidney disease program at VCU Health, supported by five outpatient dialysis units to deliver state-of-the-art care to patients with chronic and acute kidney conditions. Our faculty provide specialized expertise in:
- Glomerular Kidney Diseases: Diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as glomerulonephritis and other immune-mediated kidney disorders.
- Inherited kidney diseases: Kidney care that uses state-of-the-art genetic testing to identify heritable conditions, which then enables targeted care for conditions such as polycystic kidney disease, etc.
- Home dialysis programs
- Kidney Pharmacology and Hypertension: The Hypertension Clinic at VCU Hospital provides specialized care for patients with resistant, secondary, and complex hypertension. It focuses on comprehensive blood pressure management using advanced diagnostics, including ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and renovascular assessments.
- Onconephrology: Kidney care tailored to patients undergoing cancer treatment.
- Kidney transplantation: Kidney care tailored to patients who are in need for a transplant or have received a kidney transplant.
Excellence in Education
Our Division is committed to educating the next generation of nephrologists. We actively train nephrology fellows and have been recognized for excellence in medical education throughout all levels of the VCU School of Medicine.
Whether through patient care, groundbreaking research, or outstanding education, the VCU Division of Nephrology strives to improve kidney health and provide exceptional care for our community.
The Division of Nephrology at VCU Health has a rich history deeply intertwined with the advancement of kidney transplantation and dialysis therapies in the United States. Its development has been shaped by visionary leaders and groundbreaking contributions that have positioned the Division as a leader in kidney care, education, and research.
The Early Years: Laying the Foundation
The origins of VCU’s nephrology program trace back to Dr. David Hume, the Surgical Director of Transplantation at the Medical College of Virginia. Recognizing the critical need for renal replacement therapy, Dr. Hume initiated efforts to bring dialysis expertise to Virginia by sending a medical student to Seattle, the site of one of the first outpatient dialysis programs in the country. This knowledge formed the cornerstone for the kidney transplant program at VCU.
Dr. Thompson, the Chairman of Internal Medicine, further solidified this foundation by appointing Dr. Russell Randall as the first Division Chairman. Under Dr. Randall’s leadership, young nephrologists such as Drs. Bill Falls and Bill Stacey joined the team. Dr. Stacey later played a pivotal role in developing a nephrology and transplant program at the McGuire VAMC, even before Medicare covered dialysis and transplantation.
Expansion and Scientific Leadership
In 1975, Dr. Donald Oken, a renowned researcher in acute renal failure and a protégé of the “father of nephrology” Dr. John P. Merrill, was appointed Division Chairman. Dr. Oken recruited numerous experts, including Dr. Domenic Sica, who became a leader in renal pharmacology and hypertension and later served as President of the American Society of Hypertension.
By the 1980s, the Division had expanded its scientific endeavors under Dr. Anton Schoolwerth, who was known for his work in ammoniagenesis and mitochondrial function. During his tenure, Dr. George Feldman was brought on to lead nephrology efforts at the McGuire VAMC, adding depth to the Division's expertise.
Modern Innovations and Leadership
Dr. Todd Gehr, who became Division Chairman in 2004, brought transformative changes by establishing the home dialysis program and strengthening the Division's renal pharmacology initiatives. Under his leadership, the Division gained national recognition for its contributions to nephrology education and research. Dr. Gehr also served as Vice-Chairman of Internal Medicine, a role he continues to hold today.
In 2023, Dr. Gaurav Gupta, a leader in kidney and pancreas transplantation, was appointed Division Chief. His vision focuses on advancing the Division's commitment to patient care, education, and cutting-edge research in kidney diseases and transplantation.
Ongoing Legacy
The VCU Division of Nephrology continues to thrive, combining its rich history with innovative approaches to kidney care. Its faculty, staff, and leaders remain dedicated to improving the lives of patients across Virginia and beyond through comprehensive clinical services, groundbreaking research, and exceptional training programs.
Mission
To provide the highest quality of patient care through the generation and application of knowledge in kidney health.
Vision
Regional leadership in care of patients with kidney disease, education, and patient focused kidney research.
Values
- Providing exceptional care to all populations and addressing disparities in kidney disease.
- Delivering collaborative, patient-focused care with primary care and specialty partners.
- Innovating through research on the causes, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease.
- Promoting a culture of respect, collaboration, and inclusivity.
- Pursuing excellence through self-evaluation and ongoing improvement in care, education, and research.
About the Chief
Faculty
Division of Nephrology
VCU Faculty
- Akshay Athreya, MD
- Ambreen Azhar, MBBS
- Susan R. DiGiovanni, MD
- Adam Dossaji, MD
- Imran Fatani, MD
- Todd W.B. Gehr, MD
- Siddhartha S. Ghosh, PhD
- Graham Gipson, MD
- Andinet B. Gizaw, MD
- Gaurav Gupta, MD - Division Chief
- Layla Kamal, MD - Transplant Nephrology Fellowship Program Director
- Jason M. Kidd, MD
- Anne L. King, MD
- Dhiren Kumar, MD
- Irfan Moinuddin, MD - Nephrology Fellowship Program Director
- Kennerly "Clint" Patrick, DO, MS
- Amber Paulus, PhD, RN - Associate Chief of Nephrology Research & Data Analytics
- Elizabeth B. Ripley, MD, MS
- Sriram Sriperumbuduri, MD
- Sarah Street, MD
- Anna K. Vinnikova, MD
VAMC Faculty
- Sindhura Bobba, MBBS
- George Feldman, MD
- Mahendra Mangray, MD
- Susanne McLaughlin, MD
- Nilang Patel, MD
Clinical Areas
Learn more about our clinical services.
Nephrology outpatient clinics are located at Adult Outpatient Pavilion, Mayland Medical Center and Chesterfield Meadows. Nephrologists round at 5 outpatient dialysis units in Richmond, Tappahannock and Chesterfield County. The division is undergoing significant expansion with new collaborations and sites in the West End, Tappahanock and South Hill.
Nephrologists at VCU provide care for a wide range of kidney problems including:
- General Nephrology
- Acute Kidney
- Kidney Replacement Therapy
- In-center Hemodialysis
- Home Dialysis including Peritoneal and Hemodialysis
- Glomerular Kidney Diseases including those related to vasculitis, lupus or diabetes
- Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation
- Management of the Highly Sensitized Patient for Kidney Transplantation
- Resistant Hypertension
- Kidney Stones
- Kidney problems related to cancer
- Kidney problems related to heart failure
- Kidney problems related to liver failure
- Kidney and blood pressure problems related to pregnancy
- Electrolyte Disturbances
- Inherited kidney diseases including APOL1 Nephropathy, Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Alport Syndrome and Fabry Disease
The Division of Nephrology at VCU is pleased to provide specialized care in glomerular diseases at VCU Health.
Glomerular disease are a leading cause of end stage kidney disease. Glomerular disease refers to diseases that can affect the filters of the kidney causing kidney damage and ultimately kidney failure.
The clinic offers special care for patients with the following diseases:
- IgA nephropathy
- Membranous Glomerulonephritis
- Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
- Minimal Change Disease
- ANCA associated vasculitis
- Goodpasture’s syndrome
- Lupus nephritis
- Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
- Kidney disease due to amyloidosis and myeloma
Our clinic offers:
- Initial consultations
- Can provide second opinions and work with your nephrologist
- Can arrange kidney biopsies
- Works with a pathologist specializing in kidney diseases and other providers including Rheumatologists to formulate treatment plans
- Recommend or prescribe treatments for your kidney disease
VCU also participates in studies and trials in glomerular diseases, including:
- CureGN: Cure Glomerulonephropathy is a multicenter cohort study of glomerular diseases funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes for Health (NIH). The CureGN project will study 2400 patients with the following glomerular diseases: minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy (MN), and IgA nephropathy (IgA).
- FirstX: a clinical trial studying the safety and efficacy of a new therapy called CXA-10 to treat focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).
Patients can be seen at our downtown location (Ambulatory Care Center, 417 N 11th Street) or at VCU Health at Mayland by Dr. Jason Kidd.
To make an appointment, please call: 804-828-9682, press 4 and then 3. Ask to be scheduled in the Glomerular Diseases Clinic. If you have questions, please contact us.
Research
Learn more about our cutting edge research.
Faculty within the Division of Nephrology are active in a wide range of research.
Clinical Investigations
CureGN-3 Study
Purpose: A long-term, multicenter observational study aimed at investigating the causes, progression, and treatment of glomerular diseases to improve diagnosis, patient care, and outcomes.
Site Principal Investigator: Jason Kidd, MD
Study Coordinator: Ashley Lukwago
CureGN-3 Diabetes Study
Purpose: A multicenter, prospective observational study investigating how diabetes impacts the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of glomerular disease to advance precision medicine and identify biomarkers and treatment targets.
Site Principal Investigator: Jason Kidd, MD
Study Coordinator: Ashley Lukwago
Bifunctional Cytokine Study; UVA
Purpose: A collaboration between SlateBio, Inc., the University of Virginia, and VCU, is investigating a first-in-class bifunctional cytokine to target tissue-resident Tregs for the treatment of idiopathic nephropathy and other autoimmune diseases.
Site Principal Investigator: Jason Kidd, MD
RO7434656 Phase III
Purpose: Evaluates the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of RO7434656 (sefaxersen), a novel antisense oligonucleotide therapy, in patients with primary IgA nephropathy at high risk of kidney disease progression despite optimized supportive care.
Sponsor: Genentech, Inc.
Site Principal Investigator: Jason Kidd, MD
Study Coordinator: Shawn Fenner, RN
BK Immune Registry
Purpose: A study investigating the role of adaptive immunity, including cellular and humoral responses, in managing BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients, particularly in high immunological risk patients, to improve understanding of its pathogenesis and optimize treatment strategies such as immunosuppression reduction and immune enhancement.
Site Principal Investigator: Ambreen Azhar, MD
Study Coordinator: Gelila Abebe, MD
PREVENT-HCV Trial
Purpose: A randomized study evaluating the efficacy of prophylactic direct-acting antivirals in preventing hepatitis C transmission from HCV-infected donors to uninfected kidney transplant recipients.
Site Principal Investigator: Gaurav Gupta, MD
Study Coordinator: Gelila Abebe, MD
Letermovir vs. Valganciclovir
Purpose: Evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of Letermovir compared to Valganciclovir for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in African American kidney transplant recipients, focusing on its potential to prevent CMV disease while reducing the risk of leukopenia and associated complications.
Site Principal Investigator: Gaurav Gupta, MD
Study Coordinator: Gelila Abebe, MD
Deceased Donor Study
Purpose: Aims to investigate outcomes, practices, and factors influencing the success of kidney transplants from deceased donors to improve transplant efficacy and patient outcomes.
Site Principal Investigator: Ambreen Azhar, MD
Study Coordinator: Gelila Abebe, MD
Kidney Transplant Registry
Purpose: A repository for collecting and storing biospecimens from kidney transplant recipients to support research and advance understanding of transplant outcomes and related conditions.Principal Investigator: Gaurav Gupta, MD
Study Coordinator: Gelila Abebe, MD
COVID Transplant Registry
Purpose: Data collection for transplant outcomes in COVID-19-infected donors.
Principal Investigator: Ambreen Azhar, MD
Study Coordinator: Gelila Abebe, MD
INTERCOMEX cfDNA Study
Purpose: Evaluates the effectiveness of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) testing as a non-invasive method for detecting kidney transplant rejection by comparing its performance to MMDx microarray testing, central HLA antibody testing, and traditional biopsy-based histology.
Site Principal Investigator: Layla Kamal, MD
Study Coordinator: Shawn Fenner, RN
CARSK Trial
Purpose: A multicenter, randomized study evaluating whether forgoing routine coronary artery disease (CAD) screening in asymptomatic kidney transplant candidates after initial waitlist screening is non-inferior to regular screening, aiming to improve cost-effectiveness and reduce harms associated with current practices.
Site Principal Investigator: Dhiren Kumar, MD
Study Coordinator: Shawn Fenner, RN
APOLLO Kidney Outcomes
Purpose: Aims to assess the impact of APOL1 gene variants on kidney transplant outcomes and the health of living kidney donors with recent African ancestry, with the goal of improving transplant success and donor safety.
Site Principal Investigator: Gaurav Gupta, MD
Study Coordinator: Shawn Fenner, RN
MMDx Consortium
Purpose: Aims to develop and apply the Molecular Microscope Diagnostic System (MMDx) to analyze gene expression in transplant biopsies, enabling precise identification and classification of rejection types for earlier intervention and improved transplant outcomes.
Site Principal Investigator: Ambreen Azhar, MD
Exosomes Utility Study
Purpose: Evaluates the clinical utility of the One Lambda Exosome Assay, a non-invasive urinary mRNA gene expression test designed to detect all-cause rejection and differentiate between T-cell and antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients, offering a safer and cost-effective alternative to traditional biopsies.
Site Principal Investigator: Layla Kamal, MD
Study Coordinator: Gelila Abebe, MD
VX-130 APOL1 Study
Purpose: A Phase 2/3 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of Inaxaplin (VX-147), a small molecule inhibitor of the APOL1 protein, as a potential treatment to slow the progression of APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD).
Site Principal Investigator: Jason Kidd, MD
Study Coordinator: Ashley Lukwago
ARGX Efgartigimod Study
Purpose: A Phase 2, global, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of subcutaneous efgartigimod PH20 SC, administered via prefilled syringe, in kidney transplant recipients with Antibody-Mediated Rejection (AMR) while maintaining standard immunosuppressive therapy over a 48-week treatment period followed by a 24-week observational period.
Site Principal Investigator: Gaurav Gupta, MD
Study Coordinator: Shawn Fenner, RN
aHUS Complement Trial
Purpose: Evaluates the efficacy and safety of iptacopan (LNP023), an oral twice-daily treatment, in adult patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) who are naive to complement inhibitor therapy, focusing on hematological and kidney parameters, dialysis requirements, and patient-reported outcomes.
Site Principal Investigator: Gaurav Gupta, MD
Study Coordinator: Shawn Fenner, RN
aHUS Observational Registry
Purpose: A multicenter study designed to collect real-world data on the progression, treatment responses, and outcomes of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) to better understand the disease’s natural history, evaluate treatment effectiveness, and identify risk factors for complications.
Site Principal Investigator: Gaurav Gupta, MD
Study Coordinator: Shawn Fenner, RN
Basic Research Interests
- Mechanisms of Salt Taste Transmission
- Similarity Between Salt Transporters in Tongue and Kidne
- Animal Models of Chronic Kidney Disease
- The Effect of Curcumin in the Amelioration of Progressive Kidney Dysfunction
- Animal Models of Hepatorenal Syndrome
- Mechanisms of Chronic Allograft Nephropathy
The KiTE research consortium is dedicated to advancing kidney disease and transplant care through innovation and collaboration. Here’s a snapshot of our initiatives:
- Early Identification Models
- Developing clinical decision tools for early detection of acute and chronic kidney disease.
- Embedding these models into electronic health records to facilitate timely interventions.
- Transplantation Access and Innovation
- Increasing access to kidney transplants through evidence-based solutions.
- Automating transplant decision-making with machine learning integration.
- Innovative Diagnostics
- Exploring cutting-edge diagnostic techniques to improve kidney disease and transplant outcomes.
- Funding Support
- Generously supported by the Gupta-Levy Kidney Transplant Research Fund, investigator-initiated industry-sponsored studies, and internal VCU resources.
- Starting in 2025, the GIFT Fund (Gupta Innovation Fund for Transplantation and Nephrology Research) will further drive innovation in kidney and transplant research.
Contacts
Division of Nephrology
Division of Nephrology
1101 East Marshall Street
Box 980160
Richmond, Virginia 23298
(804) 828-9682
Division Contacts
Medicine
Gaurav Gupta, MD
Division Chief
Box 980160
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0160
Phone: (804) 828-1855
Email: gaurav.gupta@vcuhealth.org
Administration
Rebecca Mullin, MHA
Division Administrator
Box 980663
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0111
Phone: (804) 828-6866
Email: rebecca.vokes@vcuhealth.org