National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases George M. O’Brien Kidney Research Core Centers
Director: Pedro A. Jose, MD, PhD
Co-Director: Matthew R. Weir, MD Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine
In 1987, the National Institutes of Health established the George O’Brien Centers as specialized centers of research Kidney and Urologic disease. There are currently six O’Brien Kidney Centers in the United States. The mission of the Mid-Atlantic O’Brien Kidney Center is to examine the molecular basis of salt on blood pressure in a variety of different experimental animal models. An opportunity to understand the mechanisms and genetics of the relationship between dietary salt and blood pressure may translate in to improved understanding about specific therapeutic strategies for the treatment of hypertension in humans.
The Mid-Atlantic O’Brien Kidney Center is made up of three scientific cores in addition to an administration and biostatistics core, and an enrichment program core. The three scientific cores include:
- Core A: Specific Renal Genes Silencing Core directed by Pedro A. Jose MD, PhD
- Core B: Nephron and Renal Vascular Biology Core, directed by Thomas L. Pallone, MD
- Core C: Clinical Translational Core directed by Robert Carey, MD and Robyn Felder, PhD
The Administrative and Biostatistics Core, directed by Pedro A. Jose, MD, PhD, and Matthew Weir, MD include sections for Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, directed by Min Zahn, PhD, Human Research Protection, directed by Jeffrey Fink, MD, MS and Vertebrate Animals, directed by Pedro A. Jose, MD, PhD. In addition, this core will also supervise the pilot and feasibility programs section which is directed by Jeffrey Fink, MD, MS, and Thomas Pallone, MD .
The Enrichment Program Core, directed by Matthew Weir, MD and Pedro A. Jose, MD, PhD is responsible for all of the educational and training activities of the Mid-Atlantic O’Brien Kidney Center.
