Kidney research at LIU has a patient-centered perspective building on data collected in local and national registries, and longitudinal patient cohorts with samples collected in biobanks. A long standing interest is to study the incidence and prevalence of immune-mediated kidney diseases such as glomerulonephritis and vasculitis and disease mechanisms. These inflammatory kidney diseases are typically associated with the body's own immune system attacking the kidneys and are so-called autoimmune diseases. In younger patients who need dialysis or transplantation, these immune-mediated diseases are the most common underlying cause. The long-term goal is to promote early diagnosis, finding markers that can predict the course of the diseases and to improve and personalize treatment. Another research focus is to study possible sex differences in diagnosis and progression rate of kidney disease.
At LIU, nephrology research also includes dialysis studies and patients' experiences and perspective of this treatment, as well as investigations into body composition (muscles, fat, fluid) in kidney patients using magnetic camera technology.
Annette Bruchfeld is Professor in Nephrology and research leader at the center. Her primary research interest is in inflammatory kidney diseases and vasculitis.
Within the center, we will broaden the research profile, expand collaborations and attract outstanding researchers and clinicians both from Sweden and abroad. The long-term goal of the research at the center includes:
Personalizing treatment of kidney disease and reducing chronic kidney damage
Decrease the need for kidney replacement therapy over the median to long-term, which will improve the circumstances and quality of life for patients.
Prevent the harmful effects of acute kidney injury
Research and Collaborations
The vision for Ingrid Asp kidney Research Center at LiU is to become a driving force in advancing the understanding of underlying disease mechanisms and the development of new treatment regimens. The center is focused on patient-centered research within a wide range of experimental and clinical studies, and collaboration with external actors in both academia and industry.
Research profile
Daniel Appelgren is an associate professor in experimental nephrology and studies how the immune system contributes to development of autoimmune kidney diseases. He has contributed to a notable discovery of a new and unknown warning system in the body's immune system. This discovery could increase knowledge about autoinflammatory diseases and cancer.
Maria Weiner is a PhD and specialist in nephrology. Her research is, among other things, focused on how to diagnose patients early in their kidney disease and to identify markers related to disease activity, in order to time and improve treatment options in kidney disease.
Fredrik Uhlin is an adjunct associate professor, and registered nurse, who leads research projects dialysis adequacy and on how disease and treatment affect the quality of life of dialysis patients.