Professor Dr Jochen Reiser
- Section Internal Medicine and Dermatology
- Location Chicago, United States
- Election year 2017
Research
Research Priorities: Molecular biology, genetics and immunology of the kidney, kidney diseases, early recognition of chronic renal insufficiency
Jochen Reiser is a German nephrologist whose research focuses on understanding kidney physiology and its role in chronic kidney diseases. He has identified a potential biomarker capable of indicating, at an early stage and with high probability, the risk of developing chronic renal insufficiency. This could pave the way for new forms of treatment.
The kidneys perform various tasks in an organism and they often continue to perform without any obvious problems even when their functionality starts to weaken. To date, there has been insufficient understanding of the pathological processes of chronic kidney diseases, while it is often hard to influence them when they reach an advanced stage. Early diagnosis would help to prevent or delay the onset of renal insufficiency for those at risk.
Jochen Reiser has done pioneering work in this field and gained new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of kidney diseases. For years now, the nephrologist has led a team that investigates the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) as a biomarker for various kidney and cardiovascular diseases. He managed to show the correlation between a higher concentration of suPAR, which derives from immature bone marrow cells, and, in particular, diabetic nephropathy and acute kidney damage. Jochen Reiser’s studies on suPAR are considered milestones in the early diagnosis of chronic kidney diseases. In addition to the molecular and genetic aspects of kidney pathology, he also investigates the connections between malfunction and the immune system and inflammation processes.
It is not yet fully clear whether a high suPAR value is an indicator or also a cause of renal insufficiency. Jochen Reiser’s team used a mouse model with a monoclonal antibody against the uPAR protein to show what a possible therapy might look like. This protein is the insoluble pendant to suPAR, which rather than circulating in the blood is anchored in the cell membrane and acts as a receptor for the protein urikonase.
Since 2004, Jochen Reiser’s laboratory has been developing tests and diagnostic tools as well as therapeutic approaches to tackle kidney diseases and the numerous complications they entail. His work has also paved the way for additional research into the pathogenesis of nephrological diseases.
Jochen Reiser is a German nephrologist whose research focuses on understanding kidney physiology and its role in chronic kidney diseases. He has identified a potential biomarker capable of indicating, at an early stage and with high probability, the risk of developing chronic renal insufficiency. This could pave the way for new forms of treatment.
The kidneys perform various tasks in an organism and they often continue to perform without any obvious problems even when their functionality starts to weaken. To date, there has been insufficient understanding of the pathological processes of chronic kidney diseases, while it is often hard to influence them when they reach an advanced stage. Early diagnosis would help to prevent or delay the onset of renal insufficiency for those at risk.
Jochen Reiser has done pioneering work in this field and gained new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of kidney diseases. For years now, the nephrologist has led a team that investigates the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) as a biomarker for various kidney and cardiovascular diseases. He managed to show the correlation between a higher concentration of suPAR, which derives from immature bone marrow cells, and, in particular, diabetic nephropathy and acute kidney damage. Jochen Reiser’s studies on suPAR are considered milestones in the early diagnosis of chronic kidney diseases. In addition to the molecular and genetic aspects of kidney pathology, he also investigates the connections between malfunction and the immune system and inflammation processes.
It is not yet fully clear whether a high suPAR value is an indicator or also a cause of renal insufficiency. Jochen Reiser’s team used a mouse model with a monoclonal antibody against the uPAR protein to show what a possible therapy might look like. This protein is the insoluble pendant to suPAR, which rather than circulating in the blood is anchored in the cell membrane and acts as a receptor for the protein urikonase.
Since 2004, Jochen Reiser’s laboratory has been developing tests and diagnostic tools as well as therapeutic approaches to tackle kidney diseases and the numerous complications they entail. His work has also paved the way for additional research into the pathogenesis of nephrological diseases.
Career
- since 2023 President, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Health and CEO, UTMB Health System, Galveston, USA
- 2021 Visiting Professor, Duke University, Durham, USA
- 2020 Visiting Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA
- 2019 Visiting Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, USA
- 2018 Visiting Professor, Yale University, New Haven, USA
- 2017 Visiting Professor, San Francisco Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, USA
- 2017 Visiting Professor, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Baltimore, USA
- 2016 Visiting Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
- 2015 Visiting Professor, Brown University, Providence, USA
- 2015 Visiting Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- 2014 Visiting Professor, University of Mississippi, Oxford, USA
- 2013 Visiting Professor, Peking University First Hospital, Peking, China
- 2012-2023 MD Professor and Chairperson, Department of Internal Medicine, Ralph C. Brown, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA
- 2011 Vice Chair for Research, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA
- 2008-2012 Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA
- 2008-2012 Head, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and Director, Peggy and Harold Katz Family Drug Center Institute, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA
- 2008 Certification in Internal Medicine, Florida Medical License Board, Tallahassee, USA
- 2005-2008 Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- 2005 License, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Department of Justice (DOJ), USA
- 2005 Full Medical License, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA
- 2003 Fellowship in Nephrology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- 2003 Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), USA
- Clinical Training in Internal Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, New York City, USA
- 2000-2003 Postdoctoral Fellow, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, USA
- 2000 Approbation as Physician
- 1999 Doctorate, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City, USA
- Medical Degree, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Functions
- 2014-2016 Member, Medical Executive Committee (MEC), Committee on Senior Faculty Appointments and Promotions (COSFAP), and Committee on Student Evaluation and Promotion (COSEP), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA
- 2013-2023 Member, Conflict of Interest and Commitment Committee (COIIR), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA
Projects
- 2023-2026 Principal Investigator, Research Project “Targeting Bone Marrow to Treat Renal Disease”, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, USA
- 2023-2025 Principal Investigator, St. Vincent’s Project, Sealy and Smith Foundation, Galveston, USA
- 2023-2024 Principal Investigator, Research Project “Role of proteolytic suPAR fragment in insulin-dependent diabetes and kidney disease”, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- 2020-2025 Principal Investigator, Research Project “suPAR and renal fibrosis”, NIH, Bethesda, USA
- 2007 Founder, Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
- 2004 KUFA-ASN Research Grant, American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and Kidney & Urology Foundation of America (KUFA), USA
Honours and Memberships
- 2022 Invited National Speaker, National Institutes of Health, USA
- 2019 Hero of Medicine Halo Award, Halo Cures Inc., Chicago, USA
- since 2017 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
- 2017 Research Faculty Award, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA
- 2016 Franz Volhard Award, German Society of Nephrology (DGfN), Germany
- 2015 Member, Association of American Physicians (AAP), USA
- 2013 Kleeman Award, University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA
- 2012 Provost’s Award for Teaching, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA
- 2012 Member, American Clinical and Climatological Association (ACCA), USA
- 2009 Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), USA
- 2007 Ajinomoto Award for Amino Acid Research, Ajinomoto Group, Tokyo, Japan
- 2005 Young Investigator Award, DGfN, Germany
- 2004 Carl W. Gottschalk Distinguished Lectureship, Renal Section, American Physiological Society (APS), USA
- 1997 International German Thesis Award, Körber-Stiftung, Hamburg, Germany
- 1996 Congress Award, European Renal Association (ERA)
- 1996 Congress Award, ASN, USA