Vesna D. Garovic, M.D., Ph.D.

The purpose of the KAPP-Sen Tissue Mapping Center (TMC) Collaborative is an effort to characterize cellular senescence (cellular aging) in terms of its presence and heterogeneity in healthy human tissues, as well as its tissue burden, spatial distribution, and biological features. This multi-site initiative aims to collect tissue samples from across the US in order to contribute to a repository that aims to support broader knowledge of cellular senescence along with exploring the presence of qualitative and quantitative differences between various tissues, between individuals of the same age and sex, as well as differences between individuals of different ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and sex.

The overall objective of this project is to determine the feasibility of implementing a superspecialist consult model between Mayo Clinic and UMMC in the field of OB nephrology in 20 participants who are ≥ 18 years of age. 

The purpose of the study is to determine if:

• A history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders (HPD), in general, and preeclampsia, in particular, compared to normotensive pregnancies, confers an increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) after controlling for traditional risk factors.
• A history of HPD, in general, and preeclampsia, in particular, compared to normotensive pregnancies, is associated with more severe atherosclerotic disease at the time of the diagnosis of CAD.
• A history of HPD, in general, and preeclampsia, in particular, compared to normotensive pregnancies, increases the risk for a composite outcome of subsequent CAD, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, stroke, and cardiovascular death in women with incident CAD.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the presence of podocytes (special cells in the kidney that prevent protein loss) in the urine in patients with diabetes or glomerulonephritis (inflammation in the kidneys). Loss of podocyte in the urine may be an earlier sign of kidney injury (before protein loss) and the goal of this study is to evaluate the association between protein in the urine and podocytes in the urine.

This study is being done to look for early indicators in the blood and urine of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Specifically, this study will look for differences between gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and normal pregnancy. The following indicators will be studied: specific activated clotting factors (proteins in the blood that help form clots); the enzyme that cleaves clotting factor aggregates (clots); and microparticles (small particles shed from cells) from blood vessel cells, platelets (part of the blood that forms clots) and in the urine. Gestational hypertension refers to a benign form of high blood pressure in pregnancy.  The results of this study might lead to the development of methods to identify this condition early, and new ways to treat it

This study will allow us to determine normal values for the health of this gel-like layer in non-pregnant women. We will also determine whether values vary from day to day, in the same person. Normal responses from this study will be compared with data obtained in other studies (for example, studies of women who had the pregnancy complication preeclampsia, or women who have other risk factors for heart disease). This will help us to determine whether the glycocalyx contributes to the risk of preeclampsia and heart disease in women with different risk factors.

The investigators goal is to evaluate the role of XOLAIR® in treatment of Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis (AIN) with the goal of shortening the duration and dose of prednisone for treatment of drug-induced AIN. Currently there is no good treatment for drug-induced AIN. Prednisone is the standard treatment but is associated with many side-effects when used long-term and at high doses.