Lilach O. Lerman, M.D., Ph.D.

The purpose of this study is to determine how human obesity engages epigenetic mechanisms that impair human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) mitochondrial structure and function and render MSC functionally deficient.  

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether or not an MRI technique (quantitiative magnetization transfer or qMT) in narrowing human kidneys is feasible, reproducible, and predicts recovery.

The primary objective of this trial is to assess the effects of Bendavia on renal blood flow and renal function in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS), compared with placebo in patients with ARAS who receive one dose of study drug infused 30 minutes before and 3 hours after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the renal artery (PTRA).

Mesenchymal Stem Cells will be grown from the abdominal fat biopsy that will be removed during the kidney donation surgery. The purpose of this study is to compare these stem cells that are grown from healthy participants to the stem cells grown from participants that have Renal Artery Stenosis.

Current treatments for ARAS based on restoring blood flow alone have been unsuccessful at recovering kidney function. For this reason we are studying a stem cell product called "mesenchymal stem cells" or MSC. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are grown from a person's own fat tissue (obtained as a fat biopsy) and infused back into the patient's own kidney. This study is also being done to determine if the MSC infusion prior to percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty with stenting (PTRA) further enhances changes in single kidney blood flow and restoration of kidney function, as well as to assess the relationship between MSC dose and measures of kidney function.

The purpose of this study is to obtain kidney samples to understand changes in the kidney with vascular disease.

The purpose of this study is to advance knowledge in human stem cell functionality for obesity to develop a novel therapeutic strategy to improve endogenous reparative systems.

The purpose of this study is to validate an MRI method to detect renal fibrosis in patients after kidney transplantation (KT).

To determine the safety and toxicity of intra-arterial infused autologous adipose derived mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells in patients with vascular occlusive disease of the kidney.

The purpose of this study is to determine if ultrasound waves (SW) treatment changes single kidney blood flow, restores kidney function, increases the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC), or lowers high blood pressure.