Origins of Renal Physiology is entirely unique among national renal short courses. The course provides participants with research tools that give them a deeper understanding of concepts of physiological homeostasis which is difficult to attain during normal clinical training schedules.
In this course, trainees will perform experiments involving both classical physiological models, as well as modern reductionist approaches and confocal microscopy to follow trafficking of transporter proteins in cultured cells.
In addition to the curriculum itself, fellows will benefit from close interactions with senior investigators in renal physiology, who will guide them through the performance of the experiments, share meals with them in the dining room, and take the time to discuss their career goals with them. In addition, fellows will benefit enormously by working closely with other fellows from different programs, and sharing their insights into renal research.
The course is organized around several laboratory modules and one enrichment module in Responsible Conduct of Research.
- Glomerular filtration rate
- Proximal tubule function
- Salt balance and secretion
- Distal nephron sodium transport
- Water homeostasis
- Acid-based homeostasis
Participants will complete three of the rotations over the six-day course. The first day of each rotation involves intensive experimental work, and the second day involves analysis and presentation of the work to the entire conference group.
Tuition
NIH funds can only be used to cover tuition for fellows and residents enrolled in US training programs. US faculty members must pay tuition, and postdoctoral trainees in programs outside the US must pay tuition.
Tuition for US faculty and International participants is $3,900.00 USD
A non-refundable $300.00 USD registration fee is charged for all accepted participants to reserve their seat in the course.
Double-occupancy housing, meals, parking and wi-fi are provided to all accepted participants. Single occupancy, if available, may be purchased for an additional fee.
Partners


Course Director
- Mark Zeidel, M.D.Herman Ludwig Blumgart Professor of MedicineBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Rotation Leaders
- Dennis Brown, Ph.D.DirectorMGH Program in Membrane Biology, Harvard University
- Biff Forbush, Ph.D.Professor of Cellular And Molecular PhysiologyYale University
- John N. Forrest Jr., M.D.Professor of Medicine; Director of Student ResearchYale University School of Medicine
- Ossama Kashlan, Ph.D.Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Pittsburgh
- Orson Moe, M.D.ProfessorUT Southwestern
- Martin Pollak, M.D.Principal InvestigatorBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Mario Schiffer, M.D.Hannover Medical School
- John Schwartz, M.D.ProfessorBoston University School of Medicine
Course participants reside in on-campus double occupancy housing. Single housing assignment, if available, may be arranged with an extra fee.
This course is supported by a research education grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1R25DK095727-01). US residents’ and fellows’ tuition is fully covered by grant funds.