Clinical Research Faculty
Michel Chonchol, MD
Professor of Medicine
Mats Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Nephrology
Director, Clinical Research
Director, Polycystic Kidney Disease Research Program
Medical Director, End Stage Kidney Disease Program
The overall goal of my research group is to explore traditional and non-traditional risk factors in patients with chronic kidney disease and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease that could explain the high rate of death and cardiovascular events, as well as kidney disease progression observed in this patient population. The risk factors that we have focused on include: abnormalities of mineral metabolism, hypertension, and vascular disease.
Berenice Gitomer, PhD
Research Professor
For the past 27 years, Dr. Gitomer has conducted research on genetic diseases of the kidney and, since joining the Renal Division in 2003, has focused on translational studies related to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). She is primarily interested in those factors, genetic and environmental, that affect the severity of ADPKD. Notably, the National Institutes of Health has funded several of Dr. Gitomer's studies examining the roles of angiogenesis, fibroblast growth factor 23, endothelial dysfunction and modifier genes in human ADPKD. These studies, conducted in collaboration with her clinical colleagues, have resulted in several breakthroughs, including the first description of a bone defect in patients with ADPKD.
Clinical Profile
Research Profile
Anna Jovanovich, MD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Jovanovich is a physician-scientist in the field of chronic kidney disease. She is interested in phosphorus metabolism, including fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and vascular function. The main goal of her research is to identify mechanisms and treatments for cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease. Dr. Jovanovich receives funding from the VA and the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. She is also a principal investigator on a multi-site trial evaluating the effects of dapagliflozin in chronic kidney disease. Additionally, Dr. Jovanovich is the Mentorship Director in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension and has developed curriculum in palliative and supportive care within the field of nephrology. She regularly sees patients at the Denver VA Medical Center and teaches nephrology fellows, internal medicine residents, and medical students in the clinical setting.
Jessica Kendrick, MD, MPH
Associate Professor
Program Director of the Nephrology Fellowship Program
Associate Program Director of T32 Nephrology Training Grant
Director, Northeast Denver FMC dialysis unit
Dr. Kendrick researches vascular function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in order to illuminate those mechanisms and interventions most greatly affecting vascular dysfunction and mortality in CKD patients. In addition to developing non-invasive techniques for determining the relationship between vascular dysfunction and mortality, Dr. Kendrick is testing interventions that have the potential to improve vascular function in patients with CKD. She is the recipient of an R01 Project Award, R56 Project Award and a K Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health, and the recipient of multiple grant awards sponsored by Denver Health Medical Center (Denver Health), Amgen and the American Heart Association. Dr. Kendrick consistently receives “Top 5%” reviews as an educator in internal medicine and nephrology, and is recognized as a top physician at the University of Colorado. As a result, she is highly sought after by patients, families, and staff desiring her involvement in their clinical care.
Kristen Nowak, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Dr. Nowak conducts research on the mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in patients with kidney diseases – notably, those suffering from chronic kidney disease and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) – as well as on novel therapeutics to alleviate such dysfunction. Dr. Nowak has unique expertise in identifying integrative physiological mechanisms mediating vascular dysfunction, as well as in epidemiology, having recently completed a Master of Public Health. Dr. Nowak’s K01 Career Development Award, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, evaluates the efficacy of curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenol, in order to improve vascular function and slow kidney growth in children and young adults with ADPKD. Dr. Nowak helped establish the clinical vascular physiology laboratory for the Division. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board Panel B.
Clinical Profile
Zhiying You, MD, PhD
Assistant Research Professor
Dr. You has training in both medicine (MD) and Biostatistics (PhD). Through collaboration and contributing expertise of statistics, he has been involved in a variety of research, particularly clinical trials and epidemiological studies. Dr. You’s primary research interests include the design, analysis, and interpretation of clinical trials and epidemiological studies, the application of statistical principles and methods in health-related research, and the development of new statistical techniques. He is especially interested in cluster randomized trials, longitudinal data analysis, causal inference as well as their application in health-related research. By serving as a biostatistician on many projects, he has extensive experience in study design and data analysis in health-related research. Dr. You has also accumulated valuable experience through his collaborations with investigators in a variety of fields, including research in renal diseases and hypertension, cancer research, basic medical sciences, preventive medicine and public health science, and health services and policy.
Clinical Profile