Division of Nephrology Research | NYU Langone Health

Skip to Main Content

Division of Nephrology Research

Our researchers pursue answers to nephrology’s pressing questions.

Faculty members in NYU Langone’s Division of Nephrology conduct research aimed at improving treatments for people with kidney conditions.

Our team’s current areas of interest include cardiovascular disease in the setting of kidney disease, the progression of chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, hyperoxaluria, and kidney transplant. In addition, our faculty have created and maintain two rare-disease registries for Dent disease and for cystinuria.

The following clinical trials are currently recruiting enrollees.

Chronic Kidney Disease Trials

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in End-Stage Kidney Disease

Lama Nazzal, MD, is characterizing the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in a diverse end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) population. The purpose is to perform multidisciplinary and tailored interventions to increase vaccine acceptance in ESKD patients. See full trial information.

FLOW: Effect of Semaglutide Versus Placebo on the Progression of Renal Impairment in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

Naveed N. Masani, MD, and David M. Charytan, MD, MSc, are comparing semaglutide to placebo in people with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. See full trial information.

Lifestyle Management of Chronic Kidney Disease in Obese Diabetic Patients

Mary A. Sevick, ScD, is evaluating different approaches to helping people with type 2 diabetes reduce risks of developing heart and kidney disease. See full trial information.

Use of Patiromer to Transition Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with Hyperkalemia to a Plant-Rich Diet

David S. Goldfarb, MD, is enrolling people with chronic kidney disease and high concentrations of potassium in their blood, a condition called hyperkalemia, in this study. The purpose of the study is to see whether the drug patiromer can keep blood potassium levels in the normal range in people with chronic kidney disease and mild hyperkalemia who are transitioned to a plant-rich diet that includes high potassium foods. See full trial information.

A Phase IV, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-Center Trial To Study the Effects Of Evolocumab in Stage IV–V Chronic Kidney Disease: The Cardiovascular and Lipid-Lowering Effects of Evolocumab in Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Trial

David M. Charytan, MD, is evaluating the effect of evolocumab (Repatha®) in patients with chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of evolocumab (Repatha®), a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved biological drug that has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). Early data show that the benefits of evolocumab may be increased as kidney function declines. This trial is therefore designed to provide additional evidence regarding the safety and cholesterol-lowering effects of evolocumab compared with placebo, a pill that has no therapeutic effect, in advanced CKD patients. See full trial information.

Hyperoxaluria Trials

A Phase II Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy Safety and Tolerability of DCR-PHXC Solution for Injection (subcutaneous use) in Patients with Primary Hyperoxaluria

David S. Goldfarb, MD, is evaluating a new experimental drug for use in people with primary hyperoxaluria. See full trial information.

Descriptive Analysis of Gut Microbiome Alterations in Hyperoxaluric Patients

Lama Nazzal, MD, is characterizing the microbiome in four groups of subjects—(1) people with primary hyperoxaluria type I; (2) people with idiopathic calcium oxalate stones; (3) people with enteric hyperoxaluria; and (4) healthy participants—by comparing the number of species and diversity of the microbial populations and pathways for oxalate metabolism by paralleling the gene expression of enzymes involved in oxalate degradation by gut bacteria. See full trial information.

Kidney Stone Trials

Our faculty investigate treatments for kidney stones and, in collaboration with the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network, collect tissue samples for a kidney stone biobank.

Nedosiran in Primary Hyperoxaluria

David S. Goldfarb, MD, is evaluating the use of nedosiran in multiple primary hyperoxaluria trials:

A Phase 1 Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of a Single Dose of DCR-PHXC in Patients with Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 3

A Phase 2 Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of DCR-PHXC in Patients with Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1 or 2 and Severe Renal Impairment, With or Without Dialysis

A Phase 2 Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of DCR-PHXC Solution for Injection (Subcutaneous Use) in Patients with Primary Hyperoxaluria

An Open-Label Roll-Over Study to Evaluate the Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of DCR-PHXC Solution for Injection (Subcutaneous Use) in Patients with Primary Hyperoxaluria

A Natural History Study of Patients with Genetically Confirmed Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 3 with a History of Stone Events

Effect of Hydroxycitrate on Urine Chemistry

David S. Goldfarb, MD, is studying hydroxycitrate (HCA) as a potent inhibitor of calcium oxalate crystal growth that can lead to the dissolution of the crystals. The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effect of HCA supplements on HCA urinary excretion and on urine chemistries in kidney stone formers and subjects without kidney stones. See full trial information.

Rare Kidney Stone Consortium Trials

David S. Goldfarb, MD, together with researchers from the Mayo Clinic and University of Iceland, is working with the Rare Kidney Stone Consortium (RKSC) to establish robust disease registries. NYU Langone is the lead site for the Cystinuria Registry and the Dent Disease Registry.

The RKSC program includes the following studies:

Biobank Protocol (6404)

Consortium for Hereditary Causes of Nephrolithiasis and Renal Failure: Cystinuria (6401)

Effect of Increasing Doses of Tiopronin on Cystine Capacity in Patients with Cystinuria (RKSC 6413 and RKSC6421)

Health-Related Quality of Life in Rare Kidney Stone (RKSC 6408)

Prospective Research Rare Kidney Stones (ProRKS) (RKSC 6417)

Kidney Transplant Trials

As members of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, our faculty conduct trials in kidney transplant.

A Pivotal Phase 3 Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Clazakizumab for Treatment of Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Irfana Soomro, MD, is investigating the effectiveness and safety of treatment with clazakizumab compared with a placebo in kidney transplant recipients with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection. See full trial information.

Single-Center Pilot Study of Living Donor Kidney Transplant from HIV-Positive Donor to HIV-Positive Recipient

Sapna Mehta, MD, is evaluating the feasibility and safety of living donor kidney transplant from an HIV-infected donor to an HIV-infected recipient. See full trial information.

Glomerular Disease Trials

Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE)

Olga Zhdanova, MD, is studying nephrotic syndrome as part of the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE). The purpose of this study is to gather long-term observational data to help understand the biology behind nephrotic syndrome. This study includes the following conditions: minimal change disease, membranous nephropathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. See full trial information.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multiple-Dose Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of VIS649 in Participants with Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy

Olga Zhdanova, MD, is evaluating the efficacy and safety of VIS649 in Participants with
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy. See full trial information.

A Randomized Treatment, Open-Label, Dose-Blinded, Parallel-Group, Three-Arm, Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of LNP023 Compared with Rituximab in the Treatment of Subjects with Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

Olga Zhdanova, MD, is comparing LNP023 with rituximab in the treatment of subjects with idiopathic membranous nephropathy. See full trial information.

A Phase II, 12-Week, Adaptive, Open-Label, Sequential Cohort Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of PF-06730512 Following Multiple Doses in Adult Subjects with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Safa M. Kalache, MD, is evaluating the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of PF-06730512 in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. See full trial information.

Other Kidney Trials

A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Integrated Palliative and Nephrology Care versus Usual Nephrology Care

Jennifer S. Scherer, MD, is examining the effect of adding outpatient palliative care visits to usual nephrology care. See full trial information.

RADAR: Reducing Arrhythmia in Dialysis by Adjusting the Rx Electrolytes

David M. Charytan, MD, MSc, is studying heart rhythms in patients who are being treated with hemodialysis. See full trial information.

Nephrology Clinical Trials Closed to Recruitment

The following trials are active but are no longer recruiting enrollees.

Evaluate the Effect of ALLN-177 in Reducing Urinary Oxalate in Patients with Hyperoxaluria and Kidney Stones

Lama Nazzal, MD, is evaluating the efficacy of ALLN 177 compared with placebo in reducing the urinary excretion of oxalate in subjects with secondary hyperoxaluria and kidney stones. See full trial information.

The NGAL Test as an Aid in the Risk Assessment for AKI Stage II and III in an Intensive Care Population

David M. Charytan, MD, MSc, is investigating whether the neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin, or NGAL, test can be used as a predictor for acute kidney injury in patients who have been admitted to the intensive care unit. See full trial information.

Efficacy and Safety of Selonsertib in Participants with Moderate to Advanced Diabetic Kidney Disease (MOSAIC)

David M. Charytan, MD, MSc, is evaluating if selonsertib can slow the decline in kidney function in participants with moderate to advanced diabetic kidney disease. See full trial information.

Other Division Research

Our faculty expand the field of knowledge in nephrology through these additional research studies.

ACCORDION: The ACCORD Follow-On Study

ACCORDION is a prospective, observational follow-up study of at least 8,000 participants who were treated and followed in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial. Treatment in ACCORD ended in 2009, and ACCORDION is designed to further elucidate the long-term effects of the ACCORD treatment strategies and provide additional data on the relationships among various cardiovascular and diabetic risk factors. ACCORDION is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

ACCORDION has provided the scientific community with a large, rich, evolving database that may be examined to address many questions. For more information about the study, contact Lois A. Katz, MD, at lois.katz@nyulangone.org.

CKDOPPS: Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study

This study measures the effect of treatment options on chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients’ survival, quality of life, dialysis need, and costs. As this study is being conducted from clinics across the country, a goal is to represent a varied sample of CKD clinics. This research ultimately aims to contribute to effective treatment practices for CKD patients, who face high clinical risk and healthcare costs that come with the disease.

For more information about this study, contact David M. Charytan, MD, MSc, at david.charytan@nyulangone.org.

Kidney CARES Program

NYU Langone’s Kidney CARES Program provides palliative care for people with end-stage kidney disease and provides valuable and novel data that describe the clinical impact of integrated kidney and palliative clinical care.

Contact Us

For more information about Division of Nephrology research, contact Sobaata Chaudhry, clinical research coordinator, at 646-501-8453 or sobaata.chaudhry@nyulangone.org or Frank Modersitzki, MPH, research coordinator, at 212-686-7500, extension 6379, or frank.modersitzki@nyulangone.org.