I direct one of the largest renal pathology laboratories in the country, which processes approximately 5000 renal biopsies annually. This large biopsy practice has enabled our characterization of emerging kidney diseases. My major research interests include mechanisms of glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury in podocytopathies, immune mediated glomerulonephritis, monoclonal immunoglobulin-associated kidney diseases, and toxic tubulopathies. Our group has explored how pathologic forms of injury manifest clinically, how disease biomarkers can inform treatment, and the pathogenetic mechanisms governing distinct morphologic patterns of injury.

My basic research has focused primarily on mechanisms of podocyte dysregulation, injury and depletion in primary and secondary forms of FSGS. Work in animal models has led to characterization of molecular mechanisms of glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury in FSGS, HIV-associated nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy and forms of acute tubular injury.

Our team's large-scale biopsy practice has facilitated the discovery and characterization of new glomerulopathies and emerging forms of drug toxicity, such as IgA-dominant staphylococcal-associated glomerulonephritis, proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits, obesity-related glomerulopathy, smoking-related glomerulopathy, phosphate nephropathy and the nephrotoxicity of bisphosphonates and anabolic steroids. The laboratory's discovery of CKD following phosphate-based bowel cleansing for screening colonoscopy and FSGS following anabolic steroid abuse were the subject of feature articles in the Science and Sports sections of The New York Times.

In addition to clinical practice and research, I am deeply committed to education. I have published over 580 peer-reviewed papers and 80 book chapters, and have co-edited 9 textbooks of renal pathology, including the latest edition of Heptinstall's Pathology of the Kidney. For over 3 decades, I directed the annual Columbia Renal Biopsy Course. I have lectured in symposia and courses at annual meetings of the ASN, WCN and USCAP and have trained over 20 fellows, many of whom direct their own renal pathology laboratories at major medical centers.

Email: vdd1@cumc.columbia.edu