SUMMARY
Fernando C. Fervenza, M.D., Ph.D., is the director of the Nephrology Collaborative Group.
Through his work with the Nephrology Collaborative Group, Dr. Fervenza pursues patient-oriented research projects in the area of parenchymal renal diseases, with an aim of bringing new bench research discoveries to the bedside treatment of patients with these diseases.
Dr. Fervenza's current projects include a number of interventional studies that represent important steps in transferring bench research discoveries to the patient's bedside, with the potential for benefiting many patients afflicted with these formidable diseases.
Focus areas
- New treatments for glomerular diseases. Conditions of interest include membranous nephropathy, IgA glomerulonephritis, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, lupus nephritis, and ANCA-associated vasculitis. Dr. Fervenza's studies evaluate the effectiveness of various drugs that work against the body's abnormal autoimmune response, as many of the diseases that lead to kidney failure often do their damage through the autoimmune system.
- Pathogenic antibodies. Additionally, studies conducted by the MNCG are helping to improve the understanding of the role of a number of pathogenic antibodies and their response to therapy.
Significance to patient care
Until recently, treatment was unsatisfactory for most patients with renal parenchymal diseases. However, recent advances have shed significant light on the understanding of the pathogenic processes involved in some of these diseases.
Similarly, developments in biotechnology have resulted in the availability of a significant number of new and very promising agents that may be beneficial to patients with autoimmune diseases involving the kidneys.
This is a crucial moment — years of promising laboratory research are ready to be put to the test by conducting prospective studies aimed at treating these patients using novel approaches to therapy. The aim is to achieve today the promise of tomorrow.
Professional highlights
- Fellow — American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation and American College of Physicians
- Associate editor, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2013-present
- Member, Nephrology section, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2009-present