Justin Belcher, MD, PhD, FASN
Associate Professor of Medicine (Nephrology)Cards
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Medicine (Nephrology)
Biography
Dr. Belcher grew up in Connecticut before attending Williams College where he graduated cum laude with a degree in history. He then attended medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, before completing his internship, residency, and Chief Residency in Internal Medicine at George Washington University. While completing his research fellowship in nephrology at Yale, he received a PhD in 2014 from the Investigative Medicine Program. The primary focus of his research is on acute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis including the use of novel biomarkers to enhance diagnosis, therapeutic decisions and prognosis. Dr. Belcher has clinical expertise in caring for patients with a wide variety of kidney related ailments with a particular interest in acute kidney injury, complex acid base and electrolyte abnormalities, critical care nephrology and chronic kidney disease. He is actively and passionately engaged at Yale and the affiliate hospital system in the education of medical students, residents and fellows via both formal and informal didactics, lectures and workshop sessions.
Appointments
Nephrology
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- Yale University, Clinical Investigation (2015)
- Fellow
- Yale University (2011)
- Chief Medical Resident
- George Washington University (2008)
- Resident
- George Washington University (2007)
- Intern
- George Washington University (2005)
- MD
- Drexel University College of Medicine (2004)
- BA
- Williams College, History (1999)
Board Certifications
Nephrology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2015
Research
Publications
2024
Association of HRS-AKI with Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy: Results from the HRS-HARMONY Consortium.
Cama-Olivares A, Ouyang T, Takeuchi T, St Hillien S, Robinson J, Chung R, Cullaro G, Karvellas C, Levitsky J, Orman E, Patidar K, Regner K, Saly D, Sawinski D, Sharma P, Teixeira J, Ufere N, Velez J, Wadei H, Wahid N, Allegretti A, Neyra J, Belcher J. Association of HRS-AKI with Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy: Results from the HRS-HARMONY Consortium. Kidney360 2024 PMID: 39348201, DOI: 10.34067/kid.0000000589.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEtiology of AKIHRS-AKIAKI-RRTRenal replacement therapyContinuous RRTIntermittent hemodialysisAdult patientsHospitalized patientsAKI etiologyReplacement therapyAssociated with increased 90-day mortalityMulticenter retrospective cohort studyNon-HRS-AKIAssociated with increased mortalityConsecutive adult patientsRetrospective cohort studyHospital network systemHepatorenal syndromeContemporary cohortInpatient populationMechanical ventilationRRT modalityCohort studyClinical variablesPrimary outcomeImpact of acute kidney injury response on survival and liver transplant rates in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation: Results from the HRS-HARMONY consortium
Li X, Ouyang T, Belcher J, Patidar K, Cullaro G, Asrani S, Wadei H, Simonetto D, Regner K, Dageforde L, Przybyszewski E, Wilechansky R, Sharma P, Ufere N, Duarte-Rojo A, Wahid N, Orman E, St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Chung R, Allegretti A, collaborative I. Impact of acute kidney injury response on survival and liver transplant rates in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation: Results from the HRS-HARMONY consortium. Liver Transplantation 2024, 30: 1106-1115. PMID: 39073567, DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000445.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAKI responseAcute kidney injuryTransplant-free survivalLiver transplantationLT ratesCirrhosis patientsNon-respondersTime of liver transplantationCourse of hospitalized patientsNo responseRetrospective multicenter studyMELD-Na scoreResponse to therapyResponse to treatmentLiver transplant ratesRate of LTOverall survivalMulticenter studyKidney injuryCirrhosis etiologyCirrhosisHospitalized patientsTransplantationPatientsInjury responseOutcomes of patients with alcohol‐associated hepatitis and acute kidney injury – Results from the HRS Harmony Consortium
T. A, Allegretti A, Cullaro G, Ouyang T, Asrani S, Chung R, Przybyszewski E, Wilechansky R, Robinson J, Sharma P, Simonetto D, Jalal P, Orman E, Wadei H, St. Hillien S, Saly D, Ufere N, Dageforde L, Regner K, Belcher J, Patidar K, Consortium F. Outcomes of patients with alcohol‐associated hepatitis and acute kidney injury – Results from the HRS Harmony Consortium. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2024, 60: 778-786. PMID: 39010302, PMCID: PMC11349455, DOI: 10.1111/apt.18159.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlcohol-associated hepatitisAcute kidney injuryAcute kidney injury phenotypesHepatorenal syndromeMELD-NaDevelopment of acute kidney injuryCumulative incidence of deathConsecutive adult patientsOutcomes of patientsAlcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAANon-AH groupRenal replacement therapyPresence of AHAcute tubular necrosisRetrospective cohort studyPredictors of mortalityIncidence of deathAKI stageClinical courseReplacement therapyAdult patientsKidney injuryCumulative incidencePoor prognosisTubular necrosisUse of Terlipressin in AKI Associated with Hepatorenal Syndrome: PRO
Belcher J. Use of Terlipressin in AKI Associated with Hepatorenal Syndrome: PRO. Kidney360 2024, 5: 791-794. PMID: 38526157, PMCID: PMC11219105, DOI: 10.34067/kid.0000000000000341.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis: Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) and International Club of Ascites (ICA) joint multidisciplinary consensus meeting
Nadim M, Kellum J, Forni L, Francoz C, Asrani S, Ostermann M, Allegretti A, Neyra J, Olson J, Piano S, VanWagner L, Verna E, Akcan-Arikan A, Angeli P, Belcher J, Biggins S, Deep A, Garcia-Tsao G, Genyk Y, Gines P, Kamath P, Kane-Gill S, Kaushik M, Lumlertgul N, Macedo E, Maiwall R, Marciano S, Pichler R, Ronco C, Tandon P, Velez J, Mehta R, Durand F. Acute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis: Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) and International Club of Ascites (ICA) joint multidisciplinary consensus meeting. Journal Of Hepatology 2024, 81: 163-183. PMID: 38527522, PMCID: PMC11193657, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.03.031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute Disease Quality InitiativeInternational Club of AscitesAcute kidney injuryHRS-AKIQuality InitiativeHepatorenal syndromePost-discharge follow-upKidney injuryMultidisciplinary consensus meetingRisk of progression to chronic kidney diseaseProgression to chronic kidney diseasePhenotypes of acute kidney injuryFollow-up of patientsBridge to liver transplantationIncreased in-hospital morbidityIn-hospital morbidityPost-discharge follow-up of patientsChronic kidney diseaseMortality riskConsensus meetingInternational ClubCurative optionSplanchnic vasoconstrictorsAdvanced cirrhosisLiver transplantationHepatorenal Syndrome Type 1: Diagnosis and Treatment
Belcher J. Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1: Diagnosis and Treatment. Advances In Kidney Disease And Health 2024, 31: 100-110. PMID: 38649214, DOI: 10.1053/j.akdh.2023.05.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute kidney injuryHepatorenal syndromeKidney injuryFunctional acute kidney injuryUrinary biomarkers of kidney injuryAssociated with significant morbidityFractional excretion of sodiumNeutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalinDiagnostic criteriaBiomarkers of kidney injuryMultiple urinary biomarkersOptimal dosing strategiesExcretion of sodiumPoint-of-care ultrasoundAccurate differential diagnosisAnalog of vasopressinSets of diagnostic criteriaAdvanced cirrhosisAlbumin administrationSignificant morbidityVolume resuscitationTherapeutic optionsDosing strategiesFractional excretionDifferential diagnosis
2023
Outcomes of AKI on CKD in Hospitalized Cirrhotic Patients: Data from the HRS-HARMONY Consortium
St. Hillien S, Belcher J, Ouyang T, Robinson J, Regner K, Velez J, Patidar K, Cullaro G, Chung R, Allegretti A. Outcomes of AKI on CKD in Hospitalized Cirrhotic Patients: Data from the HRS-HARMONY Consortium. Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology 2023, 34: 104-104. DOI: 10.1681/asn.20233411s1104b.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociation of AKI-Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) with Mortality in Hospitalized Cirrhotic Patients Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy: Results from the HRS-HARMONY Consortium
Cama-Olivares A, Ouyang T, Takeuchi T, St. Hillien S, Robinson J, Patidar K, Cullaro G, Chung R, Regner K, Velez J, Wahid N, Sharma P, Allegretti A, Neyra J, Belcher J. Association of AKI-Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) with Mortality in Hospitalized Cirrhotic Patients Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy: Results from the HRS-HARMONY Consortium. Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology 2023, 34: 103-104. DOI: 10.1681/asn.20233411s1103c.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe prognostic implications of early-stage AKI: Defining the threshold for concern
Winters A, Belcher J. The prognostic implications of early-stage AKI: Defining the threshold for concern. Liver Transplantation 2023, 30: 235-236. PMID: 37903066, DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000292.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGood Enough? Terlipressin, Hepatorenal Syndrome, and the Usage of RRT
Belcher J. Good Enough? Terlipressin, Hepatorenal Syndrome, and the Usage of RRT. Kidney360 2023, 4: 1011-1013. PMID: 37651662, PMCID: PMC10484352, DOI: 10.34067/kid.0000000000000217.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Board Certifications
Nephrology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2015