Caigan Du, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Urologic Sciences
phone: 604-875-4111 x63793
caigan.du(at)ubc.ca
Kidney Rejection
Kidney transplantation is an effective therapy for patients with end-stage of kidney disease which can significantly improve quality and quantity of life. However, long-term survival of kidney transplants is a major challenge in clinic.
My laboratory uses animal models, kidney cell cultures, molecular biology, and biochemistry techniques to study kidney transplant rejection in an attempt to improve transplant survival. Our research focuses on three areas:
- The mechanism and regulation of renal tubular epithelial cell death (apoptosis and necrosis), survival and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (renal fibrosis).
- The role of interaction cascade of resident renal tubular epithelial cells (e.g. up-regulation of IL-6, TGF-beta, and release of IL-16) with leukocyte infiltrates in kidney transplant rejection.
- The development of immunosuppressive drug therapy using small molecular compounds for organ transplant rejection.
Education
PhD - Biochemistry - University of Wales Swansea, UK
MPhil - Biology - University of Wales Swansea, UK
BSc - Biology - Jiangxi University, China