Research Centers and Programs

Nguyen Lab

In the Nguyen Lab, we investigate the genetic and epigenetic changes occurring after kidney injury. Our goal is to identify mechanisms by which the response to kidney injury can be redirected from fibrosis to functional organ tissue.

The kidney undergoes injury as a common complication of infection, surgical procedures, medications and systemic disease. Once injured, the kidney’s ability to return to its prior state of function is unfortunately compromised. The result is progressive and irreversible chronic kidney disease which at minimum require lifelong monitoring for systemic effects and at worse, results in end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. Supportive measures only slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and currently, there is no treatment resulting in the functional repair of injured kidney tissue.

In collaboration with Dr. Mark Majesky and Dr. David Beier, our current projects focus on the role of histone modifications in the regulation of gene expression for models of kidney injury. Epigenetic regulation of transcription through the posttranslational modification of histones plays an important role in any situation where cells undergo transitional states. We investigate the proteomic, genetic and epigenetic changes that in the setting of kidney injury and repair with the goal of identifying mechanisms by which the response to kidney injury can be redirected from fibrosis to functional organ tissue.

Publications

See a list of Dr. Nguyen's publications on PubMed.

Investigator Biography

Elizabeth Dong Nguyen, MD, PhD

Dr. Nguyen is an acting assistant professor of nephrology with the University of Washington School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics. She is also a principal investigator at Seattle Children's Research Institute's Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Nguyen completed both her medical and graduate degrees at Vanderbilt University. Her graduate work focused on structural prediction of G-protein coupled receptors and drug design. She completed her pediatric residency and pediatric nephrology fellowship at Seattle Children's Hospital. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Nguyen also attends on the pediatric nephrology service at Seattle Children's Hospital, balancing responsibilities in patient care, research and teaching of medical trainees. Her clinical interests focus on genetic causes for renal disease.

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