Overview

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary kidney disease and the fourth leading cause of kidney failure worldwide. Despite major scientific advances, critical gaps remain in early risk stratification, mechanistically targeted therapies and strategies that meaningfully alter the long-term trajectory of the condition.

The PKD Research and Therapeutics Laboratory is dedicated to defining the molecular mechanisms that drive cystogenesis and translating these insights into innovative therapeutic strategies. The lab is led by principal investigator Fouad T. Chebib, M.D., an internationally recognized leader in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Our work integrates mechanistic biology, translational science, advanced imaging and clinical investigation to accelerate the development of disease-modifying therapies for ADPKD and related inherited kidney disorders.

A central focus of the Chebib lab is discovering new pathways that regulate renal physiology and cyst growth, including mechanisms of water handling by the kidneys that are independent of vasopressin. These discoveries are directly linked to therapeutic development efforts spanning small molecules, biologics and gene-based approaches. By bridging discovery science with clinical trials and precision phenotyping, our lab aims to transform how ADPKD is diagnosed, risk stratified and treated.

About Dr. Chebib

Dr. Chebib is a nephrologist and physician-scientist whose research spans molecular discovery, translational therapeutics and clinical investigation. His research focuses on identifying actionable disease mechanisms and accelerating their translation into therapies that benefit patients. Dr. Chebib also is the director of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Center of Excellence at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

A personal perspective on new research in the JCI