Voluntary Faculty
Voluntary faculty are typically clinicians or others who are employed outside of the School but make significant contributions to department programs at the medical center or at affiliate institutions.
Voluntary rank detailsHe (Howard) Zhang
Assistant Clinical ProfessorAbout
Research
Publications
2026
Iptacopan in Patients With IgA Nephropathy From East Asia
Zhang H, Perkovic V, Barratt J, Rizk D, Rovin B, Trimarchi H, Maes B, Merkel T, Desai M, Ansari S, Renfurm R, Hach T, Kashihara N. Iptacopan in Patients With IgA Nephropathy From East Asia. Kidney International Reports 2026, 11: 117-128. DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2025.10.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUrine protein-to-creatinine ratioTreatment-emergent adverse eventsSafety profileIgA nephropathyMonth 9Risk of progression to kidney failureStudy populationBiopsy-confirmed IgANProgression to kidney failureEast Asian patientsPhase 3 trialProportion of patientsProtein-to-creatinine ratioGeometric mean changeProteinuria reductionIptacopanAsian patientsIA findingsAdverse eventsClinical burdenPlaceboMean changeSupportive carePatientsKidney failure
2025
Complement-Mediated Kidney Diseases: Role of Alternative Pathway in Glomerular Inflammation
Barratt J, Garred P, Lafayette R, Zhang H, Floege J. Complement-Mediated Kidney Diseases: Role of Alternative Pathway in Glomerular Inflammation. Kidney International Reports 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2025.11.029.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchComplement-mediated kidney diseaseGlomerular inflammationKidney injuryComplement pathwayDiverse group of rare disordersGroup of rare disordersConventional immunosuppressive agentsPreclinical in vivo modelsHistological kidney injuryBetter-toleratedImmunosuppressive agentsAlternative pathwayAlternative complement pathwayClinical developmentComplement inhibitorsRare disordersKidney diseasePathway inhibitionKidney failurePathway overactivationInflammationComplement activationGrowing body of evidenceDisease pathogenesisDisease severityA Phase 3 Trial of Atacicept in Patients with IgA Nephropathy
Lafayette R, Barbour S, Brenner R, Campbell K, Doan T, Eren N, Floege J, Jha V, Kim B, Liew A, Maes B, Pal A, Pecoits-Filho R, Phoon R, Rizk D, Suzuki H, Tesař V, Trimarchi H, Wei X, Zhang H, Barratt J. A Phase 3 Trial of Atacicept in Patients with IgA Nephropathy. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2025 PMID: 41196369, DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2510198.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchB-cell activating factorPhase 3 trialProtein-to-creatinine ratioUrinary protein-to-creatinine ratioAtacicept groupsPlacebo groupIgA nephropathyCytokine B cell-activating factorInterim analysisIgA-containing immune complexesKidney disordersPlacebo-controlled trialB-cell originProliferation-inducing ligandPathophysiology of IgA nephropathyDouble-blindBetween-group differencesAtaciceptAdverse eventsPlaceboPrimary glomerulopathiesCalcium modulatorTransmembrane activatorImmune complexesMean between-group-difference#3345 Nefecon provides kidney benefit irrespective of baseline eGFR in patients with IgAN: a subanalysis of the NefIgArd study
Barratt J, Lafayette R, Reich H, Kristensen J, Jones R, Floege J, Tesar V, Trimarchi H, Zhang H, Rovin B. #3345 Nefecon provides kidney benefit irrespective of baseline eGFR in patients with IgAN: a subanalysis of the NefIgArd study. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2025, 40: gfaf116.016. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf116.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEstimated glomerular filtration rateBaseline estimated glomerular filtration rateUrine protein-creatinine ratioRenin-angiotensin systemMonths of treatmentPrimary IgANKidney functionImmune complex-mediated kidney diseaseMedian eGFRGalactose-deficient immunoglobulin A1Risk of disease progressionSupportive carePreservation of kidney functionWell-controlled blood pressureLoss of kidney functionRenin-angiotensin system inhibitionBaseline eGFR <Overall populationReduction of proteinuriaSubgroup of patientsGlomerular filtration rateGut-associated lymphoid tissueImmunoglobulin A nephropathyProtein-creatinine ratioMonths of observational follow-up#2936 Origin 3 study design: a global, randomized, controlled, Phase 3 study of atacicept in IgA nephropathy
Lafayette R, Maes B, Brenner R, Khawaja Z, Floege J, Jha V, Tesar V, Zhang H, Barbour S, Suzuki H, Trimarchi H, Barratt J. #2936 Origin 3 study design: a global, randomized, controlled, Phase 3 study of atacicept in IgA nephropathy. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2025, 40: gfaf116.1236. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf116.1236.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPhase 3 studyEfficacy of ataciceptBiopsy-proven IgANOpen-label extensionGd-IgA1B cellsPrimary endpointCirculating LevelsIgA nephropathyPlacebo-controlled phase 3 studyKidney diseaseDouble-blind treatment periodImmune complexesLevels of Gd-IgA1B-cell activating factorPhase 2b studyProliferation-inducing ligandEnd-stage kidney diseaseTreatment of IgANGalactose-deficient IgA1Atacicept doseIgAN pathophysiologyTACI receptorDisease-modifying potentialDouble-blind#2651 Sustainability and depth of UPCR reduction in patients with primary IgAN treated with nefecon: a secondary analysis of the Phase 3 NefIgArd trial
Barratt J, Reich H, Kristensen J, Jones R, Floege J, Tesar V, Trimarchi H, Zhang H, Rovin B, Lafayette R. #2651 Sustainability and depth of UPCR reduction in patients with primary IgAN treated with nefecon: a secondary analysis of the Phase 3 NefIgArd trial. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2025, 40: gfaf116.0255. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf116.0255.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEstimated glomerular filtration rateUrine protein-creatinine ratioRenin-angiotensin system inhibitionRenin-angiotensin systemPrimary IgANDisease-modifying effectsB cellsTime-weighted average changePeyer's patchesRisk of disease progressionSupportive careImmune-mediated kidney diseasesEstimated glomerular filtration rate declineAssociated with slower eGFR declineWell-controlled blood pressureKidney function stabilityLoss of kidney functionTreated with placeboFormulation of budesonideEGFR deteriorationMonths of treatmentSlower eGFR declineProportion of patientsGlomerular filtration rateGut-associated lymphoid tissue#2626 Effect of iptacopan discontinuation on proteinuria and complement biomarkers in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN): a post hoc analysis from a Phase II trial
Barratt J, Rizk D, Zhang H, Maes B, Kashihara N, Rovin B, Trimarchi H, Kollins D, Desai M, Papachristofi O, Koukouli E, Perkovic V. #2626 Effect of iptacopan discontinuation on proteinuria and complement biomarkers in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN): a post hoc analysis from a Phase II trial. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2025, 40: gfaf116.030. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf116.030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUrine protein-creatinine ratioAP biomarkersAlternative complement pathwayPost Hoc AnalysisBID armOpen-label extension studyHoc AnalysisRenin-angiotensin system inhibitorsUrinary sC5b-9Short durationPhase II trialImmunoglobulin A nephropathyProtein-creatinine ratioEnd of treatmentBL levelsPlasma BbTreatment reinitiationDouble-blindII trialEligible ptsIptacopanComplement inhibitionSystem inhibitorsTubulointerstitial damageGlomerular inflammation#3015 ALIGN post-hoc analyses: Reduction in proteinuria with atrasentan across subgroups by MEST-C score, baseline hematuria and baseline UPCR
Heerspink H, Jardine M, Kohan D, Lafayette R, Levin A, Liew A, Zhang H, Davies H, Knorr B, Ansari S, Renfurm R, Barratt J. #3015 ALIGN post-hoc analyses: Reduction in proteinuria with atrasentan across subgroups by MEST-C score, baseline hematuria and baseline UPCR. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2025, 40: gfaf116.0465. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf116.0465.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMEST-C scoreMaximum tolerated doseMEST-CPost Hoc AnalysisEndothelin-A receptor antagonistSupportive careProgressive loss of renal functionLoss of renal functionEfficacy of atrasentanA receptor antagonistBiopsy-proven IgANPlacebo-controlled studyRenin-angiotensin inhibitorsSubgroup analysis dataWeeks of treatmentPost-hocStatistically significant reductionBaseline proteinuriaDouble-blindProteinuria reductionPrimary endpointEfficacy benefitsRenal functionIgAN patientsAtrasentan#2808 A mechanistic biopsy study of the effect of iptacopan on immunopathology in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN)
Rizk D, Maes B, Zhang H, Kretzler M, Eitner F, Abner C, Valentin M, N V, Di Tata M, Barratt J. #2808 A mechanistic biopsy study of the effect of iptacopan on immunopathology in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2025, 40: gfaf116.1163. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf116.1163.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEstimated glomerular filtration rateStable doseHistopathological changesCorrelation of histopathologic changesEstimated glomerular filtration rate changesUrine protein-creatinine ratioBiopsy-proven IgANMEST-C scoreCD68+ cellsGlomerular filtration rateImmunoglobulin A nephropathyProtein-creatinine ratioBaseline to 9 monthsSupportive care treatmentGlomerular complement activationMEST-COpen-labelIptacopanKidney biopsySingle-armAdult patientsBiopsy studiesFiltration rateIgA nephropathyKidney function#3251 Nefecon provides kidney benefit irrespective of time since diagnosis in patients with IgAN: a subanalysis of the NefIgArd study
Lafayette R, Barratt J, Reich H, Kristensen J, Jones R, Floege J, Tesar V, Trimarchi H, Zhang H, Rovin B. #3251 Nefecon provides kidney benefit irrespective of time since diagnosis in patients with IgAN: a subanalysis of the NefIgArd study. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2025, 40: gfaf116.0271. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfaf116.0271.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEstimated glomerular filtration rateUrine protein-creatinine ratioYear prior to baselineRenin-angiotensin systemLoss of kidney functionPrimary IgANKidney functionIgAN diagnosisDisease progressionRisk of disease progressionImmune-mediated kidney diseasesSupportive careWell-controlled blood pressureRenin-angiotensin system inhibitionProgression to kidney failureMonths of treatmentGlomerular filtration rateGut-associated lymphoid tissueTreatment to slow disease progressionImmunoglobulin A nephropathyProtein-creatinine ratioMonths of observational follow-upLoss of nephronsSlow disease progressionObservational follow-up