The goal of Jordan Kreidberg's research is to understand the genetic mechanisms of organogenesis, with a focus on the urogenital system.

The Kreidberg lab aims to:

• Understand the inductive mechanisms of early organ development;
• Define regulatory interactions that establish and maintain normal glomerular function and prevent chronic renal failure; and
• Define the stem cell compartment of the developing kidney, and develop approaches for propagating the stem cell compartment

If kidney stem cells can be defined and propagated, they may ultimately be used to regenerate new kidney tissue in individuals with chronic renal failure. Determining the regulatory interactions within the glomerulus could also yield treatments to reverse glomerular damage and prevent situations that lead to nephrotic syndrome and chronic renal failure.

Kreidberg lab researchers have demonstrated a novel inductive interaction between angioblasts, the cells that give rise to blood vessels, and mesenchymal precursorcells, which differentiate into connective tissue. This interaction is required for early kidney development.

The Kreidberg lab is also working to determining how the integrin family of adhesion receptors participate in organogenesis and are examining how the Wt1 transcription factor and the alpha3 beta1 integrin receptor regulate glomerular development and maintain normal glomerular function.

Biosketch

Jordan Kreidberg is Director of the Office of Fellowship Training at Boston Children's Hospital and Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Children's Hospital Boston and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Whitehead Institute.