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Sorin Fedeles, PhD, MBA

Assistant Professor Adjunct

Contact Information

Sorin Fedeles, PhD, MBA

Appointments

Biography

Leading a program focused on elucidating the impact of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways modulation on the progression of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) using cellular, biochemical, genetic, and pharmacological approaches.

Employing whole-genome CRISPR/Cas9 forward screens coupled with single-cell RNAseq to identify new targets for ADPKD. Developed a novel proof-of-concept model to examine the role of ER protein folding in modulating the progression of ADPKD due to Pkd1 missense mutations. Characterized a novel genetic mouse model of tubulo-interstitial kidney disease. Initiated and managed a collaboration with a bio-engineering group at MIT to test/develop compounds for the treatment of ADPKD. Based on this, put together grant applications that have led to ~$2.6 million in federal and private funding from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the PKD foundation with a method-of-use patent issued.

Responsibilities include managing research staff, writing grants/manuscripts, budget oversight, teaching, serving as a peer-reviewer on grants and journal submissions, and disseminating research via national/international conferences.

Principal Investigator on past and current funded grants (accepted or declined) totaling ~$5.2 million from NIH (RO1-declined; P&F), DoD (Discovery and IIRA), and the PKD Foundation.

Currently serving as Executive Director of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Outcomes Consortium at Critical Path Institute.

Education & Training

  • MBA
    Yale School of Management, Healthcare
  • PhD
    Yale University, Genetics
  • MS
    Yale University, Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Activities

  • Leveraging Data Analytics to Uncover Prognostic Biomarkers for Patient Stratification in PKD
    Boston, MA, United States 2024
    6th Chronic Kidney Disease Drug Development Summit
  • Annual update of PKD Consortium activities
    Philadelphia, PA, United States 2023
    PKD Consortium Annual Symposium
  • Modulation of hypomorphic polycystin-1 species in vivo ameliorates ADPKD progression
    Virtual meeting 2023
    PKD RRC Symposium
  • What Does Patient-Focused Drug Develoment Look Like in Rare Diseases?
    Washington, DC, United States 2023
    Rare and Orphan Disease Conference
  • Clinical Trial Simulator Tools for modelling rare disease progression
    Washington, DC, United States 2023
    Rare and Orphan Disease Conference
  • Polycystic Kidney Disease Outcomes Consortium (PKDOC) 2.0 activities update
    Washington, DC, United States 2023
    Rare and Orphan Disease Conference
  • Advancement of Drug Development Tools for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) as Told Through the PKD Outcomes Consortium Story
    Virtual Conference 2023
    Joint Conference by FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and the Johns Hopkins University’s Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (JHU CERSI)
  • Clinical trial simulator tool development for ADPKD
    Orlando, FL, United States 2022
    PKD Outcomes Consortium (PKDOC) Annual Meeting
  • The role of XBP1 in modulating ADPKD
    Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal 2022
    FASEB ADPKD Meeting
  • Genetic mechanisms of ADPKD
    Boston, MA, United States 2022
    Vertex Pharmaceuticals Invited Lecture
  • Genetic models of ADPKD
    Virtual lecture 2022
    Polycystic Kidney Disease Outcomes Consortium Conference
  • UPR pathways in ADPKD
    Virtual lecture for U. Colorado Denver PKD Center faculty 2021
    University of Colorado PKD Center Lecture
  • Role of protein folding in modulating ADPKD disease progression
    Boston, MA, United States 2019
    Harvard PKD Center Symposium
  • Role of XBP1 in ADPKD
    Santiago de Compostela, GA, Spain 2019
    Spanish Society of Human Genetics Meeting
  • Enhanced protein folding via XBP1 activation ameliorates ADPKD due to PC1 misfolding
    San Diego, CA, United States 2018
    Annual meeting for the American Society of Nephrology
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response in ADPKD
    Big Sky, MT, United States 2017
    FASEB ADPKD Meeting
  • UPR in ADPKD
    Chicago, IL, United States 2016
    Annual meeting for the American Society of Nephrology
  • The role of XBP1 in Polycystin-1 folding and maturation
    Kansas City, MO, United States 2016
    Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, MO.
  • Genetic interaction between Sec63 and Xbp1 regulates Ire1 activity and polycystic disease progression.
    Baltimore, MD, United States 2015
    Nephrology and Therapeutics
  • 11β is a novel compound that inhibits disease progression in models of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
    Atlanta, GA, United States 2013
    American Society of Nephrology Meeting
  • The molecular and genetic interaction between the Ire1-Xbp1 unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway and Sec63 regulates polycystin-1 (PC1) protein processing
    Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 2013
    Sophia Antipolis, CNRS Institute of Molecular Pharmacology
  • The most conserved pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR) controls the Sec63p-dependent cystogenesis
    Saarlouis, SL, Germany 2013
    Saarland University invited lecture
  • Glucosidase II activity represents a novel urine biomarker in the detection of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Liver Disease (ADPLD) due to mutations in PRKCSH
    Philadelphia, PA, United States 2012
    American Society of Nephrology Meeting
  • Ire1- Xbp1 unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway is a genetic and molecular regulator of cystogenesis through a polycystin-1 (PC1) dependent mechanism.
    Philadelphia, PA, United States 2011
    American Society of Nephrology Meeting
  • Sec63 is a modulator of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).
    San Francisco, CA, United States 2008
    American Society of Nephrology Meeting
  • Trafficking of Polycystin-1 is altered in autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease (ADPLD)
    Philadelphia, PA, United States 2007
    American Society of Nephrology Meeting

Honors & Recognition

AwardAwarding OrganizationDate
Investigator Initiated Research AwardDepartment of Defense2021
RO1 Research Grant (Declined)NIH2021
Discovery AwardDepartment of Defense2020
Pilot and Feasibility AwardYale O'Brien Center2020
Young Investigator Career Development AwardPolycystic Kidney Disease Foundation2019
Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation GrantPKD Foundation2016

Professional Service

OrganizationRoleDate
National Institute of Health (NIH)Early Career Reviewer (ECR) for the March 2023 PBKD study section. PBKD reviews basic, translational and clinical research R01/R21 applications involving acute and chronic kidney diseases. 2022 - 2023
Frontiers in MedicineGuest editor for "Podocyte and Tubule - OPATHIES in Kidney Disease" series published in Frontiers in Medicine. Sourced innovative content, selected peer-reviewers and managed the entire life-cycle of accepted manuscripts. 2021 - Present
Scientific ReportsInvited reviewer2020 - Present
Polycystic Kidney Disease FoundationSelected reviewer for PKD Foundation Research Grants. 2019 - 2021
Kidney InternationalInvited reviewer2019 - Present
FASEB JournalReviewer2018 - Present
Journal of the American Society of NephrologyInvited reviewer2015 - Present
Kidney Research UKReviewer for Kidney Research UK research grants.2014 - Present

Departments & Organizations