Faculty

Sandra M. Herrmann, M.D.

Clinical Studies

New Biomarkers Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-Associated Nephrotoxicity Rochester, Minn.
The purpose of this study is to prospectively validate urine cytokines (e.g. TNF-α and CXCL9) and urinary T cells as non-invasive biomarkers to distinguish between ICI-AIN versus non-ICI-AIN in patients who developed AKI.  Among patients on ICI therapy who develop AKI with adjudication of etiology by clinical criteria and kidney biopsies, we will access the accuracy of biomarkers, including urine CXCL9 and TNF-α and urinary T cells for the differentiation of biopsy-proven ICI-AIN from other causes of AKI, e.g. acute tubular injury (i.e. non-ICI-AIN). Our hypothesis is that urine biomarkers will provide a non-invasive method to accurately distinguish between AIN and non-AIN causes of AKI in ICI patients. To correlate with urine biomarkers, blood will be obtained from samples collected during the  time of AKI. Plasma and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) will be obtained for the analysis of cytokines and immune phenotyping.

Hypoxic Preconditioning for the Improvement of the Regenerative Capacity of Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Its Application in Chronic Kidney Disease due to Hypertensive Nephropathy Rochester, Minn.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the central hypothesis that autologous, adipose-derived MSC preconditioned by hypoxia will have superior kidney angiogenic function compared to untreated MSC from humans with HN and CKD.