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 Assistant Professor in the University of Washington School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics and a Principal Investigator at Seattle Children's Research Institute. As co-director of the Kidney Genetics Clinic at Seattle Children's Hospital, she is dedicated to improving patient care by expanding genetic diagnoses and providing equitable access to advanced research and education. A physician-scientist, Dr. Nguyen completed her medical and graduate degrees at Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on protein structure prediction and drug design. She then completed her pediatric residency and pediatric nephrology fellowship at Seattle Children's Hospital. Today, she balances her time between patient care on the pediatric nephrology service, leading her research team, and teaching the next generation of trainees. Her clinical interests are centered on the genetic causes of renal disease.

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